F1 Australia Qualy

Welcome everybody to the 2011 season and let us all hope we have a season as exciting as 2010. The anticipated start in Bahrain was cancelled due to the problems in the country and all we can hope the unrest settles down and the GP can be rescheduled later in the season. A final decision will be made in May.

So it was off to Australia for the first race with a lot of changes to the cars. New tyres make their debut as Pirelli take over from Bridgestone. The interest is around durability as two to three tyre changes are planned which makes a huge difference to strategy for all the teams.

The new adjustable rear spoiler will also be a huge benefit on the straights where it can only be used. This will reduce down force and hence assist in overtaking. KERS is also back and we all know the challenges that system brings.

The drivers are now complaining about the amount of buttons they to activate in the steering wheel and one-handed driving can be dangerous when they are on the limit. There are also many changes behind the scenes, too many to discuss here.

The driver line up remains basically as 2010 but the notable addition is that of Paul Di Resta taking over the seat in Force India. Renault have been forced into a driver change after the unfortunate accident to Robert Kubica and the experienced Nick Heidfeld. One has to question the extra activities drivers undertake during the off-season.

Back to the cars and Red Bull seem still to be ahead but Mclaren and Ferrari are not far away. We all hope Mercedes are at the sharp end which will make the season much more interesting. Michael said he was fighting for a podium which is encouraging.

So after all the talk, the pre-season testing and comments from all the teams it is down to who can perform on the day. We also have a change in the commentary box as David Coulthard joins Martin Brundle, so we have two experienced drivers talking us through the races and they really make a huge difference to our TV experience.

Off we go for the first twenty minute qualifying session in 2011 and please note the 107% rule comes back so drivers not qualifying within 107% of the pole lap then they won't race. The first out was a Lotus with the others leaving it for what seemed a long time. Vitaly was the first to set a televised time in his Renault with a time of 1.29.4 which is fairly steady.

Out come the big guns as Sebastian goes fastest followed by Mark, Jenson and Lewis in the mid 1.26's. The times are obviously tumbling and Mark was the first into the 1.25's. Lewis then put in a typical Lewis meteoric lap into the low 1.25's confirming Mclaren could mix it with the Red Bull's. Strangely enough at this early stage both Ferrari's are sixth and seventh but then Michael puts his Mercedes up into fifth.

It is interesting watching the adjustable rear spoiler working as the drivers open it on the straights and it goes back once the driver hits the brake. The TV graphics are also very interesting showing all the new technology.

Ferrari appear to be panicking a little as both their cars went out on a new set of soft tyres. Vitaly was driving like a man possessed as he slotted his Renault up into a fantastic third but yet Nick Heidfeld didn't make it into Q2. At the end of Q1 we have two cars out due to the 107% and it will be in the hands of the stewards and teams to decide whether they race.

There was last minute panic for Felipe as he only got into Q2 at the very last minute. We lost the usual seven protagonists as we headed for Q2. Pasto Maldonaodo drove well to put his Williams through to Q2 in his first outing for the team.

Unfortunately Rubens got it all wrong on his out lap and dumped it into the gravel on turn three and went out to start the GP in seventeenth. Both Red Bull's went out new sets of soft tyres and then came back in without setting a lap time.

The first runs for Pirelli seem to be holding out well but the race tomorrow will show the durability albeit the track doesn't seem to be rubbering in as in previous seasons. Sebastian then through in a mighty lap on a 1.24090 which is a lightening lap and sets the bench mark in his first run on the soft tyres.

It is very interesting looking at the front of the pack as both Red Bull's, Mclaren's, Ferrari's and Mercedes with a lone Renault all in the mix with only 1.8 seconds covering the top ten.

Into Q3 we have Sebastian, Lewis, Mark, Jenson, Fernando, Kamui, Vitaly, Felipe, Nico and Jamei (deposing Michael who finished eleventh), so all the big guns are there.

Who can depose Sebastian will be interesting as we head into Q3 and the fight for pole position. They will all run as little fuel as they can and of course they have to start the race on the tyres they finish Q3 on. Lewis is the first out on the soft tyres into what will be a very interesting first qualifying of the 2011 season.

Sebastian sets an unbelievable 1.23.529 and who on earth can match that apart from maybe Mark, Lewis and Jenson but that lap is mighty. With only 3.25 seconds to go neither Ferrari's have even set a lap albeit they are on circuit.

So after Sebastian's mighty lap he remained on pole but Lewis slotted onto P2 followed by Mark, Jenson, Fernando, Vitaly (fantastic drive), Nico, Felipe, Kamui and in tenth, Sebastian Buemi. Great qualifying session and we all look forward to a very interesting race tomorrow.