BAMBINO: 22 cars started. only 7 finished. Lewis Hamilton, with his rookie season behind him, cruised to an easy victory from pole bringing his McLaren to victory. Heikki Kovalainen had a good drive in his 1st year with McLaren finishing 5th.
Ferrari had a very poor start to the 2008 campaign. Both red cars did not qualify well and both cars did not finish the race. Massa after a first turn scrum with David Coulthard had to pit for a new nose cone, and desperately tried to make his way through the field. But his F2008 developed engine trouble and had to retire. Defending World Champion Kimi Raikkonen, who qualified a dismal 15th, managed to get to 9th place during the frantic first lap, easily outclassing the back markers. The Ice Man made his way through the field and eventually was in a duel for 7th with Rubens Barichello in the improved Honda.
After the 1st round of pitstops, Kimi who was on a one stop strategy, was on pace to wind up battling for the lead. But he made two key errors underbraking and wound up in the gravel trap. He managed to get his Ferrari back on the track, but he could not catch up the field. Kimi eventually retired with engine trouble, but did receive 1 point as Rubens Barichello was disqualified for running a red light out of the pit lane.
BMW, had a fabulous qualifying and Grand Prix. Robert Kubica qualified second, and Nick Heidfeld 6th. Both drivers were never too far back from Hamilton. Heidfeld finished second and Kubica was forced to retire late with gearbox trouble.
Williams also had a good weekend. Nico Rosberg finished on the podium third and Nakajima took 6th after he retired on the last lap.
Honda has improved their engines, and it showed in the Australian GP. Barichello had the pace to battle with the top of the field and would have finished 6th. But he ran a red light in the pit lane with the Safety Car out and was subsequently disqualified. Jenson Button crashed on that chaotic first turn, but had the pace in qualifying and practice.
Fernando Alonso had a good drivc back with his old team Renault, finishing 4th. And Toyota, is back with the rest, with yet another dismal GP. Sebastien Bourdais in his F1 debut, retired his Toro Rosso with three laps to go, but the former CHAMP Car driver had the pace. He took two points for 7th place.
FINAL RESULTS:
1) Lewis Hamilton - McLaren - Mercedes
2) Nick Heidfeld - BMW
3) Nico Rosberg - Williams - Toyota
4) Fernando Alonso - Renault
5) Heikki Kovalainen - McLaren - Mercedes
6) Kazuki Nakajima - Williams - Toyota
7) Sebastien Bourdais - Scuderia Toro Rosso - Ferrari
8) Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari
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