2012 Australian Grand Prix
The 2012 Australian Grand Prix (formally, the 2012 Formula 1 Qantas Australian Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 18 March 2012 as the opening round of the 2012 Formula One season. It was the 77th race in the combined history of the Australian Grand Prix that dates back to the 100 Miles Road Race of 1928, and the 17th time the event has been held at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park.
| 2012 Australian Grand Prix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 1 of 20 in the 2012 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | 18 March 2012 | ||||
| Official name | 2012 Formula 1 Qantas 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 |
Fine Air Temp 22 °C (72 °F) Track Temp 30 °C (86 °F) dropping to 22 °C (72 °F) | ||||
| Attendance | 114,900 | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver |
| McLaren-Mercedes | |||
| Time | 1:24.922 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | |||
| Time | 1:29.187 on lap 56 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | McLaren-Mercedes | ||||
| Second | Red Bull-Renault | ||||
| Third |
| McLaren-Mercedes | |||
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Lap leaders | |||||
The 58-lap race was won by McLaren driver Jenson Button who took his third victory at the Albert Park Circuit. Reigning double World Champion Sebastian Vettel, driving for Red Bull Racing, finished in second place, while polesitter and Button's McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton completed the podium.
Australian Mark Webber was fourth, his best result in his home Grand Prix. Webber's fourth place was the best finish by an Australian in an Australian Grand Prix since Alfredo Costanzo finished fourth in 1984, the last time the race was run under Australian domestic rules before becoming a round of the World Championship in 1985.