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GRAND PRIX OF AUSTRALIA
Albert Park, Melbourne.
16/03/08
2007 winner, Kimi Raikkonen
58 laps
After practice, it looked that while the McLaren might have the advantage over the flying lap, over an extended race stint the Ferraris would be the better bet. However, Raikkonen spluttered to a halt at the end of Q1 leaving Hamilton to a relatively easy pole ahead of a deceptively fast Kubica. The first corner again proved problematic and six drivers would not make it round to start lap 2, while Massa had an strangely familiar spin letting the front three run away in order. Raikkonen however made a good moving from p16 to p8 before becoming stuck behind an equally elevated Barrichello. Just after the first round of pit stops, a tangle between Coulthard and a charging Massa brought out the safety car again, ultimately leading to both retiring. For a while it looked like Raikkonen would rejoin the front runners with his bold one-stop strategy but two trips into the gravel were but a precursor to a disappointing retirement five laps from home. A third safety car period brought about by the spectacular demise of Glock ended McLaren's hopes of a one-two, Heidfeld taking p2 from an untroubled Hamilton, Rosberg an excellent third. All-in-all, a messy race.
FIA Formula 1 World Championship
MELBOURNE