2007 Australian Grand Prix
The 2007 Australian Grand Prix (officially the 2007 Formula 1 ING Australian Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 18 March 2007 at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia. It was the first race of the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship. The 58 lap race was won by Kimi Räikkönen for the Ferrari team after starting from pole position. Fernando Alonso finished second in a McLaren car, with teammate and future 7-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton third on his Grand Prix debut.
| 2007 Australian Grand Prix | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Race 1 of 17 in the 2007 Formula One World Championship | |||
| Race details | |||
| Date | 18 March 2007 | ||
| Official name | 2007 Formula 1 ING Australian Grand Prix | ||
| Location | Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia | ||
| Course | Temporary street circuit | ||
| Course length | 5.303 km (3.295 miles) | ||
| Distance | 58 laps, 307.574 km (191.118 miles) | ||
| Weather | Clear with temperatures reaching up to 21 °C (70 °F) | ||
| Attendance | 105,000 | ||
| Pole position | |||
| Driver | Ferrari | ||
| Time | 1:26.072 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Kimi Räikkönen | Ferrari | |
| Time | 1:25.235 on lap 41 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Ferrari | ||
| Second | McLaren-Mercedes | ||
| Third |
| McLaren-Mercedes | |
|
Lap leaders | |||
Räikkönen started the race alongside Alonso, but in the start Alonso was passed by BMW Sauber driver Nick Heidfeld and Hamilton, who started third and fourth. Räikkönen controlled the race from the front of the field, with Alonso regaining second place after overtaking Hamilton during the second round of pit stops.
The Grand Prix was also the first Grand Prix since 2000 Malaysian Grand Prix where all Formula One entrants utilized Bridgestone tyres as Michelin quit the sport after the 2006 season.