Australia   25-27 Mar 2011
Qantas Australian Grand Prix
Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia Event Description: Race Distance: 58 laps, 307.574 km

Traditionally, the "streets" of the Albert Park Circuit are the venue for the opening round of the season. This year, Australia hosts Round 2 at the colorful circuit. Most of the year, this course is a park road, but for the GP weekend, it's converted into a dynamic 3.3 mile circuit amid the Australian fall weather.

The last four of five Australian GPs have been won by the driver that went on to win the championship. Last season it was Button's second win in a row in Australia, but that did not translate into a championship. Kubica placed 2nd in the race, with Massa in 3rd. Vettel DNF'd from pole due to a second mechanical failure in a row. Qualifying Summary: Red Bull looks to have out-foxed the competition during the off-season, as Vettel, brimming with that new-world-champ confidence, takes the pole position by nearly a second over 2nd place Hamilton.

Vettel's teammate, and Aussie native, Webber takes 3rd. While Hamilton's McLaren teammate Button makes the first two rows an all Red Bull/McLaren affair.

With the 107% rule back in effect, the two HRT cars fail to make the grid by running seconds behind 107% of Vettel's Q1 time. Not surprising considering the total of 7 laps of testing run by HRT during the entire off-season.

The top 10 qualifiers in Australia:
VET HAM WEB BUT ALO PET ROS MAS KOB BUE Race Summary: Vettel exorcises some Australian demons and keeps his championship winning form from last season by winning the first race in 2011.

Maintaining their unexpected qualifying pace, Hamilton and Button's McLarens finish 2nd and 6th. Surprising everyone, young Petrov nabs the first ever podium for a Russian driver in 3rd. Alonso and Webber round out the top 5.

Schumacher retires due to damage received from a tire puncture caused by Kobayashi on the first lap. But Kobayashi and teammate Perez are both disqualified due to post-race inspection of their rear wings. Driver Classification for Round 1: Fantasy Results: Event Media: