The 2012 F1 season got off to an exciting start in Melbourne for the Australian Grand Prix.
While Jenson Button won in style for McLaren there was a lot of action behind him in a busy midfield.
The rain that greeted the teams on Friday was a distance memory and the late afternoon sun at Albert Park in Melbourne provided the perfect backdrop for the opening race of the year – as this collection of pictures shows.
Start, Melbourne, 2012
AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX F1/2012 – MELBOURNE 17/03/2012 – MARK WEBBER
AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX F1/2012 – MELBOURNE 16/03/2012 – MICHAEL SCHUMACHER
AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX F1/2012 – MELBOURNE 18/03/2012 – JENSON BUTTON
AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX F1/2012 – MELBOURNE 18/03/2012 – NICO ROSBERG
AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX F1/2012 – MELBOURNE 18/03/2012 – SEBASTIAN VETTEL – JENSON BUTTON – LEWIS HAMILTON
Jenson Button at Australian GP
Jenson Button at Australian GP
Jenson Button at Australian GP
Jenson Button at Australian GP
Jenson Button at Australian GP
Jenson Button at Australian GP
Jenson Button with his father John and his girlfriend Jessica Michibata at Australian GP
Team of Vodafone McLaren Mercedes celebrates victory of Jenson Button at Australian GP
Jenson Button at Australian GP
AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX F1/2012 – MELBOURNE 18/03/2012 – MICHAEL SCHUMACHER – SEBASTIAN VETTEL
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Charles Coates/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _X5J2487
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _G7C3313
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _G7C3316
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _G7C3375
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _G7C3476
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _G7C3500
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Charles Coates/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _X5J2558
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _G7C3544
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Glenn Dunbar/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _G7C3572
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Charles Coates/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _X5J2602
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Charles Coates/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _X5J2779
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Charles Coates/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _X5J2848
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _Q0C3183
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _Q0C3195
2012 Australian Grand Prix Sunday
Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
18th March 2012.
World Copyright:Andrew Ferraro/LAT Photographic
ref: Digital Image _Q0C3204
Martin Whitmarsh, Jessica Michibata, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton at Australian GP
AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX F1/2012 – MELBOURNE 16/03/2012 – KIMI RAIKKONEN – LEWIS HAMILTON
they are so bloody ugly, i cant see that nose ever growing on me. thank heavens one of those ugly cars never won. that would make me want to vomit. oh Ugly. don’t blame Ferrari saying what an ugly car.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
18th March 2012, 12:09
I do love the Mercedes livery and general image but the overalls that the front and rear jack were wearing are awful!
I’m sure Petronas appreciate it though.
ScuderiaVincero (@scuderiavincero)
18th March 2012, 13:48
@andrewtanner Frankly, I’m surprised it didn’t come sooner. :p
wificats (@wificats)
18th March 2012, 18:35
I actually quite like them, it’s not the nicest shade of turquoise, but I find the consistency of image rather pleasing.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
18th March 2012, 22:23
@wificats Oh yeah the consistency is good. Rosberg was wearing a white Mercedes cap, I really liked that!
miguelon
18th March 2012, 13:32
where are the williams ???????????????????????
aka_robyn (@)
18th March 2012, 14:36
Seriously — is there a comment like this on literally every single photo post?
Althasil (@althasil)
18th March 2012, 15:46
Ctrl + F “Williams” – I think you’ll find 6 pictures.
Would love to have seen a shot of the Toro Rossos and Di Resta on the final straight. What a tight finish!
dennis (@dennis)
18th March 2012, 17:32
@keithcollantine
I think you will find that the picture of the Caterham going sideways is Kovalainen and not Petrov.
Indranil Dudhane (@indranildudhane)
18th March 2012, 18:56
Any pictures from the driver’s photo shoot with everyone together? Did they click one with the 6 world champions together?
aka_robyn (@)
18th March 2012, 19:03
Yes and yes — on the official site:
http://www.formula1.com/gallery/race/2012/864/general/sunday.html
Fixy (@)
18th March 2012, 19:54
Six world champions: http://www.formula1.com/wi/sutton/2011/d12aus4855.jpg
All drivers: http://www.formula1.com/wi/sutton/2011/d12aus4843.jpg
Remco H.
19th March 2012, 11:44
Lewis and Fernando are in the wrong place…….at least according to the names on the cars behind them :-)
Eric Morman (@lethalnz)
19th March 2012, 0:23
they are so bloody ugly, i cant see that nose ever growing on me.
thank heavens one of those ugly cars never won.
that would make me want to vomit.
oh Ugly.
don’t blame Ferrari saying what an ugly car.
Dane. (@dane-1)
19th March 2012, 8:35
Awesome pictures as usual. It would be a shame if Melbourne ever becomes a night race
George (@george)
19th March 2012, 18:42
I love how forced Hamilton’s smile looks in the McLaren group picture
joe delaney (@jock1)
13th June 2012, 11:29
cool pge