By Turn Three at Melbourne last year, Sebastian Vettel was clear of the field. His win at Albert Park was rarely threatened, as he crossed the line 22 seconds in front of Lewis Hamilton in 2nd. Last year, as so often, the first race provides a microcosm of the season to come.
Winners of the first race so often take the title. Even when they don't there are often clues as to who will. In Bahrain in 2010, Alonso won the opener (and, admittedly, nearly the title) but the real story was Vettel streaming away off the front to be stymied by unreliability. In 2005, Giancarlo Fisichella won on début for Renault, however he'd got a lucky break in qualifying. More representative was Alonso's fight from 12th, and Raikkonen not starting from the place where he'd qualified due to unreliability.
2003 saw Schumacher into 4th, but he was in the old F2002. The race was won by David Coulthard in the MP4-17D, as the surprise of the season was McLaren's competitiveness in the 2003 in a car not competitive in 2002! Anyway, 2003 signaled that Schumacher wasn't to have it quite as easy! There was DC's other opening win, in 1997, which was won with the benefit of seeing eventual champion and pole sitter Villeneuve in the kitty litter at the first turn, although McLaren weren't ready to beat Schumacher over the season as they were on the day.
And despite not producing a title winner, 1999's Australian GP really did set the tone for the season. Schumacher effectively out. McLaren fast, but to finish first...! Six different constructors in the points, and surprising success for Irvine, Frentzen and Ralf. (Also both BARs retiring!) It didn't see the champion win, but it did show the first sign of a crazy season.
It is not always so. In 2002, the season decided to use up its entire quota of excitement in Ralf's attempt to climb mount Barrichello at Turn One, taking out 6 other drivers in the chain reaction. One thing did ring true, though, Schumacher's waltz to victory. The F2004's debut saw a Ferrari one-two and certainly set the tone for the most dominant season in memory; the F2000 also scored a one-two, but that showed up McLaren's ability in the millenium year to be faster but somehow stuff it up - there were two Mercedes popping within 7 laps of each other.
Its not only at the front that the tone is set for the season. Who can forget Honda beaten in qualifying by their own 2006 car, painted in Super Aguri's colours. Thats when we knew the RA107 wasn't just an abysmal livery. And there was 2009, McLaren's zenith. However, the comeback on Sunday (regardless of the DQ for lying) showed the resilience that allowed them to return to the front by midseason. And what can sum up Seb Vettel and Red Bull in 2009 more than getting into an unnecessary collision from a decent points scoring position?
In summary, looking at the first race of the season can often tell us a lot about the season ahead if we know where to look. I mentioned some times the eventual World Champion didn't win the opener. Those are the only times that has happened since Nigel Mansell won his first race for Ferrari in 1989.
Winners of the first race so often take the title. Even when they don't there are often clues as to who will. In Bahrain in 2010, Alonso won the opener (and, admittedly, nearly the title) but the real story was Vettel streaming away off the front to be stymied by unreliability. In 2005, Giancarlo Fisichella won on début for Renault, however he'd got a lucky break in qualifying. More representative was Alonso's fight from 12th, and Raikkonen not starting from the place where he'd qualified due to unreliability.
2003 saw Schumacher into 4th, but he was in the old F2002. The race was won by David Coulthard in the MP4-17D, as the surprise of the season was McLaren's competitiveness in the 2003 in a car not competitive in 2002! Anyway, 2003 signaled that Schumacher wasn't to have it quite as easy! There was DC's other opening win, in 1997, which was won with the benefit of seeing eventual champion and pole sitter Villeneuve in the kitty litter at the first turn, although McLaren weren't ready to beat Schumacher over the season as they were on the day.
And despite not producing a title winner, 1999's Australian GP really did set the tone for the season. Schumacher effectively out. McLaren fast, but to finish first...! Six different constructors in the points, and surprising success for Irvine, Frentzen and Ralf. (Also both BARs retiring!) It didn't see the champion win, but it did show the first sign of a crazy season.
It is not always so. In 2002, the season decided to use up its entire quota of excitement in Ralf's attempt to climb mount Barrichello at Turn One, taking out 6 other drivers in the chain reaction. One thing did ring true, though, Schumacher's waltz to victory. The F2004's debut saw a Ferrari one-two and certainly set the tone for the most dominant season in memory; the F2000 also scored a one-two, but that showed up McLaren's ability in the millenium year to be faster but somehow stuff it up - there were two Mercedes popping within 7 laps of each other.
Its not only at the front that the tone is set for the season. Who can forget Honda beaten in qualifying by their own 2006 car, painted in Super Aguri's colours. Thats when we knew the RA107 wasn't just an abysmal livery. And there was 2009, McLaren's zenith. However, the comeback on Sunday (regardless of the DQ for lying) showed the resilience that allowed them to return to the front by midseason. And what can sum up Seb Vettel and Red Bull in 2009 more than getting into an unnecessary collision from a decent points scoring position?
In summary, looking at the first race of the season can often tell us a lot about the season ahead if we know where to look. I mentioned some times the eventual World Champion didn't win the opener. Those are the only times that has happened since Nigel Mansell won his first race for Ferrari in 1989.
