2009 FORMULA ONE: AUSTRALIAN GP PREVIEW

This weekend, Formula One 2009 season will open its curtain. As with the previous seasons, Australian Grand Prix will be the first round of the circuit and the venue is none other than the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. With autumn and winter approaching the Down Under nation, this Formula One race will see if many speculations on every aspect of the motor sports may or may not come true.

FOR MORE INSIGHT OF THE TEAMS, DRIVERS and VENUES, PLEASE CLICK HERE AND HERE FOR REFERENCES.

ING AUSTRALIAN GP BUILD UP

The first race will see a debutant spectacular prospect by Brawn GP. Brawn GP is a new team formed by the effort by ex-Ferrari master mind, Ross Brawn in which he took over the former Honda Racing Team after it was announced Honda will leave the sport due to credit crunch. Brawn GP had flew past many eyes of expectations when they clocked the fastest in testing period in build up to the curtain-opener while many never failed to notice the inability of Ferrari and McLaren to make any impacts.

Prior to the arrival of the teams, Renault and McLaren threatened to boycott the race due to money not been paid to the teams. However, issues seems to be resolved as both the teams had arrived and gone underway for the race this weekend. In another front, several teams protest the legality of the car designs owned by Brawn, Williams and Toyota, where the diffusers are illegal. The decision is on pending until the Malaysian GP.

THE CIRCUIT

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The Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Alber Park is a temporary road course of 5.303km in distance for each lap. The weekend race will covers 58 laps or a total distance of 307.574 km. It consists of 16 corners.

PRACTISE

Nico Rosberg clocked the fastest time in both Friday practise, with World Champion Lewis Hamilton is in a further down the grid at 16th and 18th.

Top 8 First Practise Result: N. ROSBERG (Williams), K. NAKAJIMA (Williams), K. RAIKKONEN (Ferrari), R. BARRICHELO (Brawn), H. KOVALAINEN (McLaren), J. BUTTON (Brawn), F. MASSA (Ferrari), T. GLOCK (Toyota)

Top 8 Second Practise Result: N. ROSBERG (Williams), R. BARRICHELO (Brawn), J. TRULLI (Toyota), M WEBBER (RedBull), J. BUTTON (Brawn), T. GLOCK (Toyota), K. NAKAJIMA (Williams), S VETTEL (RedBull)

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