UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Race: Fisichella's winning start

Italian triumphant in round one

Giancarlo Fisichella was one of the few men talking up his chances ahead of the 2005 Formula One season.

On Sunday in Melbourne the Italian’s optimism had added substance as he completed a wining start to his Renault career with a pole position to victory performance at the Australian Grand Prix.

However, Fisichella’s faultless performance was slightly overshadowed by the rampaging drives of Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari) and Fernando Alonso (Renault).

The second and third placed finishers relentlessly marched up the order during the 57 lap race after starting 11th and 13th respectively.

Behind the leading trio was another success story in Red Bull’s David Coulthard.

The Scot, dumped by McLaren at the end of last year, concluded an impressive weekend with a fourth place finish.

The extra power Cosworth had found through the winter was no doubt a benefit, as was the fact that a majority of the ‘top cars’ had started outside the top ten.

But the Scot’s performance wasn’t so pleasing for many Australians as Mark Webber, a local hero, spent the entire race behind him.

Coulthard made a courageous move on his Williams rival into the first turn on the first lap.

Webber was admittedly conservative on the brakes in an attempt to save his tyres and the opportunistic Coulthard needed no more of an invitation.

Sixth was Juan Pablo Montoya in his first race for McLaren, followed by Red Bull’s Christian Klien who completed a double-points-scoring finish.

McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen rounded out the top eight and scored the final world championship point.

RACE SHORTS

* Stalled start. Kimi Raikkonen’s Australian Grand Prix never managed to get off the line. The Finn stalled on the grid causing the race to be started.

Raikkonen eventually started the race from the pit lane and put in a strong performance to finish eighth.

* Compatriot clash. Nick Heidfeld was furious after bowing out of the Australian Grand Prix.

The German came together with his compatriot Michael Schumacher while trying to put a pass on the number one Ferrari.

Schumacher made a late move to the right heading into turn three and the pair ultimately came together.

While Heidfeld ended his race beached in the gravel, Schumacher was able to continue, albeit briefly, before parking his F2004M in the Ferrari garage.

* Double DNF. Both BARs pulled out of the Australian Grand Prix on the final lap.

Jenson Button and Takuma Sato were instructed to park their cars before collecting the chequered flag allowing them to install fresh engines ahead of the Malaysian event.

It remains to be seen what action, if any, the FIA will take.

Written: Sun, 06 Mar 2005 04:58:14