Australia   16-18 Mar 2012
Qantas Australian Grand Prix
Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia Event Description: Race Distance: 58 laps, 307.574 km

Once again, the "streets" of the Albert Park Circuit are the venue for the opening round of the season. 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 five of six Australian GPs have been won by the driver that went on to win the championship. In 2011 Red Bull's Vettel took the win on his way to the championship, with Hamilton 2nd and Petrov in the Lotus/Renault in 3rd. Qualifying Summary: Last season's qualifying domination by Red Bull appears not to carry over to 2012 as McLaren locks out the front row in Australia. Hamilton leads Button over the rest of the field.

Lotus' new driver Grosjean performs fantastically with the 3rd fastest lap. Webber and Vettel only place 5th and 6th, surprisingly off pace. Neither HRT car meet the 107% rule and will not race on Sunday.

The top 10 qualifiers in Australia:

HAM BUT GRO MSC WEB VET ROS MAL HUL RIC Race Summary: Despite poor qualifying results, Red Bull drivers are able to place well, but neither show enough pace to unseat McLaren as Webber takes the win in Australia.

Using pit strategy and the Safety Car period to his advantage, Vettel is able to grab 2nd place away from the faster car of Hamilton in 3rd. Webber finishes 4th.

Alonso rounds out the top 5, which is perhaps the most he could have hoped for with a Ferrari far off the pace of their rivals. Grosjean, Schumacher, Maldonado, and Hulkenberg who all qualified well ended up retired amongst others as 1st race attrition was heavy this year. Driver Classification for Round 1: Fantasy Results: Event Media: