
Australia 2012
Round 1 • March 18, 2012
Circuit
Melbourne
The season opener in Melbourne is a thrilling showcase of high-stakes drama as the F1 grid battles through a race defined by strategic gambits and unexpected twists. Kimi Räikkönen's return adds a layer of excitement while the top teams jostle for dominance in a tightly contested affair. With tire strategies playing a pivotal role, this race is a masterclass in tactical acumen and on-track prowess.
| Pos | Driver | Time/Gap | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jenson Button | 1:34:09.565 | 25 |
| 2 | Sebastian Vettel | +2.139 | 18 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | +4.075 | 15 |
| 4 | Mark Webber | +4.547 | 12 |
| 5 | Fernando Alonso | +21.565 | 10 |
| 6 | Kamui Kobayashi | +36.766 | 8 |
| 7 | Kimi Raikkonen | +38.014 | 6 |
| 8 | Sergio Perez | +39.458 | 4 |
| 9 | Daniel Ricciardo | +39.556 | 2 |
| 10 | Paul Di Resta | +39.737 | 1 |
| 11 | Jean Eric Vergne | +39.848 | 0 |
| 12 | Nico Rosberg | +57.642 | 0 |
| 13 | Pastor Maldonado | Accident | 0 |
| 14 | Timo Glock | +1 lap | 0 |
| 15 | Charles Pic | Oil pressure | 0 |
| 16 | Bruno Senna | Collision damage | 0 |
| Pos | Driver | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lewis Hamilton | 1:26.800 | 1:25.626 | 1:24.922 |
| 2 | Jenson Button | 1:26.832 | 1:25.663 | 1:25.074 |
| 3 | Romain Grosjean | 1:26.498 | 1:25.845 | 1:25.302 |
| 4 | Michael Schumacher | 1:26.586 | 1:25.571 | 1:25.336 |
| 5 | Mark Webber | 1:27.117 | 1:26.297 | 1:25.651 |
| 6 | Sebastian Vettel | 1:26.773 | 1:25.982 | 1:25.668 |
| 7 | Nico Rosberg | 1:26.763 | 1:25.469 | 1:25.686 |
| 8 | Pastor Maldonado | 1:26.803 | 1:26.206 | 1:25.908 |
| 9 | Nico Hulkenberg | 1:27.464 | 1:26.314 | 1:26.451 |
| 10 | Daniel Ricciardo | 1:27.024 | 1:26.319 | - |
| 11 | Jean Eric Vergne | 1:26.493 | 1:26.429 | - |
| 12 | Fernando Alonso | 1:26.688 | 1:26.494 | - |
| 13 | Kamui Kobayashi | 1:26.182 | 1:26.590 | - |
| 14 | Bruno Senna | 1:27.004 | 1:26.663 | - |
| 15 | Paul Di Resta | 1:27.469 | 1:27.086 | - |
| 16 | Felipe Massa | 1:27.633 | 1:27.497 | - |
| 17 | Sergio Perez | 1:26.596 | - | - |
| 18 | Kimi Raikkonen | 1:27.758 | - | - |
| 19 | Heikki Kovalainen | 1:28.679 | - | - |
| 20 | Vitaly Petrov | 1:29.018 | - | - |