29th Mar. 2009
The cars line up on the Melbourne circuit. Hamilton sits on the pole for the 14th time in his career. Alonso sits next to him just two tenths slower in his qualifying lap. Massa is third and there in fourth sits Kovalainen.
Fifth on the grid is Kimi Raikkonen, and next to him is Nick Heidfield, after out-qualifying his teammate, Robert Kubica, who sits in a disappointing ninth place. In seventh and eighth, respectively, sits Nelson Piquet Jnr and Timo Glock. Bringing up the top 10, with an impressive qualifying, is Nico Rosberg in his yellow and blue helmet.
Martin Brundle has done his pit walk and can't figure out who is on hard or soft tyres because the stripe has gone now; slick tyres are the order of the day.
One light...two lights...three lights...four lights...and five lights go on. The engines scream and the 2009 Formula One season is a go.
Hamilton gets a good start with Alonso putting down too much wheel spin. Raikkonen gets an amazing start and flies into second place, tucking up behind Hamilton. Massa turns into the first corner in third place, with Kovalainen trying to push up the inside of him.
Massa clips Kovalainen's front wing, and the snow plough-like wing flies off. Kovalainen is going to have to go in the pits, after he has struggled around the rest of the circuit...
Lap 10
Hamilton leads the field, with Raikkonen 1.235 seconds behind and pressuring Hamilton. He took two tenths out of him in the final sector of the last lap. Three seconds behind is a gaggle of four cars being held up by Alonso who is struggling on the slick tyres.
Behind him is Massa followed by Kubica and Heidfeld all in a stern line. A further 4.376 seconds behind is Piquet Jnr and Glock. After pitting on the first lap, Kovalainen slipped to the back of the field but has made his way back to 14th place.
Lap 16
Hamilton comes in for his first of two scheduled pit stops. Raikkonen takes the lead, after being 0.425 seconds behind Hamilton. Raikkonen knows he has to put the hammer down to get past Lewis in the pit stops.
Lap 19
Kimi comes in the pits for his first stop. He will not take on as much fuel as Hamilton did to ensure he comes out still in the lead. Kimi is the last of the top eight to come in. Hamilton is in second place as Kimi comes in.
Kimi pulls into his pit box perfectly—fuel hose goes in and tyres come off, new tyres are on and fuel hose is off. Raikkenen has been stationary for 7.1 seconds, compared to Hamilton's 8.4 second stop.
Hamilton is already screaming down the pit straight, as Kimi is exiting the rather dodgy pit lane exit. Raikkonen has done enough, and Hamilton now finds himself 2.685 seconds behind the new leader—Raikkonen.
Lap 27
Hamilton is tucked right underneath the rear wing of Raikkonen and has already had a few goes at him on the 3.295 mile circuit. It's obvious Hamilton is faster, but he is finding it hard to pass Raikkonen who has an F1 car the size of a 44 ton wagon.
Lap 28
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