Rate the race result: 2012 Australian Grand Prix

The 2012 Formula One season got off to an entertaining start in Melbourne, as Jenson Button headed a tightly packed field.

After months of waiting and wondering, F1 Fanatics finally got to see some racing, and rated it a respectable 7.662.

Here’s what they had to say:

Few were excited about the battle for the lead:

The only disappointment was that the top four never actually fought each other, the gaps between them just stayed static. Other than that, great race.
Slr

Sure the midfield action was chaotic but at the sharp end of the grid almost nothing was happening. After the safety car Webber couldn?������t pass Hamilton who couldn?������t pass Vettel who couldn?������t pass Button. This could have been a race from 2011.
Tom

The midfield battles were exciting until the very end, though many regretted the retirements:

The midfield battles added to the depth and excitement, though it?������s a shame that Grosjean and Schumacher were out of the race early ?������ they would have spiced the entertainment factor up even more!
Marty

Pastor Maldonado impressed before his last-lap crash:

Maldonado raced really well and even though I?������m an Alonso fan, I would have loved to have seen Maldonado pass him. It?������s a shame he crashed in the end, he?������s quick but just needs to cut out those mistakes.
Slr

Many thought the race set us up for a great season ahead:

If the McLaren boys keep their game up, with Jenson and Lewis scoring valuable points, the championship might be over much sooner that some of us would like.

Here?������s hoping that Red Bull will sort out their problems and improve enough to challenge McLaren.
AlexNK

Seven different constructors scored a world championship point, which can only be a good thing:

Great to see so many different constructors in the top ten.
smokinjoe

But not everything was equally celebrated:

Were Red Bull deliberately making McLaren pit stop longer by pretending to be waiting for their drivers as the commentators were suggesting?
DT

Finally, Kimi Raikkonen’s return was greeted with almost universal appreciation:

The return of Raikkonen led to some pretty hilarious conversations namely, “Why are the blue flags waving?” “They are not for you” and an unheard one where he apparently said “oops” when Kobayashi passed him.
MahavirShah

Previous Australian Grand Prix ratings

Race	Average rating
2008 Australian Grand Prix	7.609
2009 Australian Grand Prix	7.937
2010 Australian Grand Prix	8.638
2011 Australian Grand Prix	6.751
2012 Australian Grand Prix	7.662

What did you think of the race? Did it set the tone for the season or will it all change? Have your say in the comments.

Voting is still open on the ‘Rate the Race’ poll for Malaysia, so add your vote here:

• Rate the race: 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix

2012 Australian Grand Prix

• Tales from a Melbourne marshal
• Button wins first Driver of the Weekend vote of 2012
• Rate the race result: 2012 Australian Grand Prix
• F1 fans’ video highlights from the Australian Grand Prix weekend
• Schumacher keeps Mercedes’ front wing hidden after spin

Browse all 2012 Australian Grand Prix articles

Image ?�?� Daimler/Hoch Zwei