Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix Revised Results: Sebastian Vettel Wins

The 2011 Formula 1 Grand Prix season has roared to life like the powerful rush through a burst dam. The puzzled anticipation of changes to the exacting formula was answered perhaps a bit less dramatically than was expected. Tire wear on the previously unknown Pirelli design was not as critical as had been expected, but just critical enough to put a bit of added drama into the season opener in Melbourne, Australia.

It should be mentioned that while the Australian Grand Prix has been the traditional season opener for several years, the 2011 Formula 1 season was meant to begin two weeks ago in Bahrain. The civil unrest currently causing upheaval at that venue led to the FIA postponement of the Bahrain race, possibly until February 2012.

The extra two weeks gave a little breathing space to the hard working crews. All the same, the newbie Hispania team was disallowed from competing. Their last-minute assembly of their cars prevented the team from getting the benefit of any practice time, so they were unable to set times within 107% of the pole time, a requirement for qualification. Additionally, their cars appeared to be shedding body and aerodynamic parts on the track, so they were shamed by an exclusion from the field.

It always surprises this observer that new teams seem to always underestimate the exacting requirements of the "top flight” of auto racing. They put in their millions of dollars, pounds, euros, lire, pesos and whatever, and experience failure because they fail to appreciate the millions of hours, brains, technicians and billions of dollars it takes to earn a winner in F1.

This observer is not certain of the reasons for it, but there seemed to be more close competition, with multiple lap “dicing” for position and passes during the race at Albert Park. Approximately eight laps into the race, there was a wonderful dual in which Jenson Button in his McLaren who was trying desperately to pass the Ferrari of Filipe Massa. Button did a magnificent job in the chase, exercising skill and judgement lap after lap, until he finally vanquished Massa and scooted away. During their battle, Massa's Ferrari held up the swifter McLaren to put Button far from his teammate in the sister McLaren, Lewis Hamilton, who was running in second position where he both started and finished the race.

There were several similar duels between drivers during the Australian race, as well as heartbreak for some, disappointment for others and glory for yet others. Heartbreak befell Mark Webber, who, at his home race, was unable to come close to the speed of his Red Bull teammate, young reigning world champion Sebastien Vettel. Far greater heartbreak befell others. Nick Heidfeld, with his new opportunity in the Renault Lotus, languished back in 12^th position at the finish, unable to match his pre-race pace while his teammate, young Russian driver Vitally Petrov, who earned a podium finish with his third place.

Most devastating of all in the view of this observer is the disqualification of both Saubers, having been driven beautifully into points positions by both Japan's Kamui Kabayoshi and Sergio Perez, the rookie from Mexico. Perez had been thought of as a “purchased ride” entrant, and he has put that opinion to rest in his very first Formula 1 race with a skilled and well-judged drive. The paddock is somewhat mystified that he and he alone was able to complete the race with just one tire stop. Perez and his Sauber have proven that it can be done, even on the quicker-wearing Pirelli tires. In any case, both Saubers were disqualified for having too much surface on the new movable rear wings.

In the end, this was the finishing order for the 2011 Australian Grand Prix at Melbourne's Albert Park track.

Revised results
1. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
2. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
3. Vitaly Petrov, Renault
4. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari
5. Mark Webber, Red Bull
6. Jenson Button, McLaren
7. Felipe Massa, Ferrari
8. Sebastien Buemi, Toro Rosso
9. Adrian Sutil, Force India
10. Paul di Resta, Force India
11. Jaime Alguersuari, Toro Rosso
12. Nick Heidfeld, Renault
13. Jarno Trulli, Lotus
14. Jerome D'Ambrosio, Virgin

Not classified/retirements/lap disqualified:
Sergio Perez, Sauber, 58
Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber, 58
Timo Glock, Virgin, 50
Rubens Barrichello, Williams, 49
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 22
Heikki Kovalainen, Lotus, 19
Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, 19
Pastor Maldonado, Williams, 10