2004 Australian Grand Prix Review

Ferrari dominates the weekend and finish 1-2. Another yawner Formula One season in the making? I don't think so. Scuderia Ferrari have dominated the Albert Park circuit in recent years, and the sudden drop in temperature for the race swung the tire advantage in their favor. A poor start by Williams BMW's Juan Pablo Montoya took the pressure off of Ferrari's Michael Schumacher. Brake problems with Rubens Barrichello's Ferrari also prevented any challenges at the front of the pack.

There is no question that Ferrari's F2004 was the best car on the grid in Australia, but there are still 17 races to go and miles to go before anyone sleeps. Michael Schumacher's Ferrari also appeared to be experiencing heavy brake wear, and the retirement by Sauber's Felipe Massa showed that their Ferrari-built Petronas-badged engine is not unbreakable. The "X" factor of course is Michael Schumacher, who captured his fourth career grand slam (winning from pole, leading every lap, setting fastest lap) on Sunday in Melbourne. The legendary driver Jim Clark accomplished the feat eight times during a career that was tragically cut short in 1968 at the age of just 32.

My prediction that Renault and BAR could bump McLaren from their top three perch began to take shape. Renault's engine might be down on power but their aero package is getting the job done, and their innovative approach to the launch control ban worked to perfection. BAR are showing signs that their strong winter testing performance was no fluke and Jenson Button brought home a sixth place finish on Michelin tires for the first time.

The F1 circus now moves to Sepang for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Much warmer temperatures and a circuit not known to be Ferrari friendly could mix things up a bit. I expect reliability to become a much bigger factor in Malaysia and Bridgestone will have their work cut out for them. Ferrari have indeed dropped the gauntlet and there are several teams vying to pick it up.

POS DRIVER NATIONALITY ENTRANT LAPS TIME/RETIRE
1. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER Germany Ferrari 58 1h24m15.757
2. RUBENS BARRICHELLO Brazil Ferrari 58 13.605
3. FERNANDO ALONSO Spain Renault 58 34.673
4. RALF SCHUMACHER Germany Williams-BMW 58 1m00.423
5. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA Colombia Williams-BMW 58 1m08.536
6. JENSON BUTTON Britain BAR-Honda 58 1m10.598
7. JARNO TRULLI Italy Renault 57 1 Lap
8. DAVID COULTHARD Britain McLaren-Mercedes 57 1 Lap
9. TAKUMA SATO Japan BAR-Honda 57 1 Lap
10. GIANCARLO FISICHELLA Italy Sauber-Petronas 57 1 Lap
11. CHRISTIAN KLIEN Austria Jaguar-Cosworth 56 2 Laps
12. CRISTIANO DA MATTA Brazil Toyota 56 2 Laps
13. OLIVIER PANIS France Toyota 56 2 Laps
14. GIORGIO PANTANO Italy Jordan-Ford 55 3 Laps

R FELIPE MASSA Brazil Sauber-Petronas 44 Engine
R NICK HEIDFELD Germany Jordan-Cosworth 43 Clutch
R GIANMARIA BRUNI Italy Minardi-Cosworth 43
R MARK WEBBER Australia Jaguar-Cosworth 29 Gearbox
R ZSOLT BAUMGARTNER Hungary Minardi-Cosworth 13 Electronics
R KIMI RAIKKONEN Finland McLaren-Mercedes 9 Engine

FASTEST LAP: M.SCHUMACHER Germany Ferrari 29 1:24.125

DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS:
POS DRIVER NATIONALITY ENTRANT POINTS
1. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER Germany Ferrari 10
2. RUBENS BARRICHELLO Brazil Ferrari 8
3. FERNANDO ALONSO Spain Renault 6
4. RALF SCHUMACHER Germany Williams-BMW 5
5. JUAN PABLO MONTOYA Colombia Williams-BMW 4
6. JENSON BUTTON Britain BAR-Honda 3
7. JARNO TRULLI Italy Renault 2
8. DAVID COULTHARD Britain McLaren-Mercedes 1

CONSTRUCTORS CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS:
POS CONSTRUCTOR POINTS
1. FERRARI 18
2. WILLIAMS-BMW 9
3. RENAULT 8
4. BAR-HONDA 3
5. MCLAREN-MERCEDES 1