Formula 1: ZF Sachs partner Ferrari again on the podium
ZF Sachs partner Ferrari finished on the podium again at the second Formula 1 race of the season. In an exciting wheel to wheel battle on a drying track Felipe Massa finished third behind victor Jenson Button (McLaren-Mercedes) and Robert Kubica (Renault). Massa痴 team mate Fernando Alonso followed in fourth place despite spinning as a result of a collision immediately after the start. Alonso defended his lead in the Drivers� Championship standings ahead of Massa as a result. Ferrari also leads the manufacturers� standings.
ZF Sachs Race Engineering damper technology proved to be an important component for success in the second race of the season in Australia after the Ferrari one-two in Bahrain. In this way the suspension elements from Schweinfurt produce excellent performance on the most varied circuits because the bumpy surface of the city track in Albert Park, Melbourne, which was still wet at the start, differs considerably from the Arabian race track in the desert.
Another team, Mercedes-Benz GP relying on ZF Sachs Race Engineering damper technology, also collected points down under. Nico Rosberg again finished fifth. Team mate Michael Schumacher also scored a point following a fighting performance after he was forced to pit to change the front wing as a result of being the innocent victim in an accident after the start.
Results, GP Australia (AUS), 2nd round, FIA Formula 1 World Championship, 26 Mar � 28 Mar 2010:
1. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, 1h 33m 36.531s
2. Robert Kubica, Renault, + 12.034s
3. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, + 14.488s, ZF Sachs
4. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, + 16.304s, ZF Sachs
5. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes-Benz, + 16.683s, ZF Sachs
6. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, + 29.898s
7. Vitantonio Liuzzi, Force India-Mercedes, + 59.847s
8. Rubens Barrichello, Williams-Cosworth, + 1m 00.536s
9. Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault, + 1m 07.319s
10. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes-Benz, + 1m 09.391s, ZF Sachs
Drivers� standings:
1. Fernando Alonso, 37 points; 2. Felipe Massa, 33; 3. Jenson Button, 31; 4. Lewis Hamilton, 23; 5. Nico Rosberg, 20; 6. Robert Kubica, 18; 7. Sebastian Vettel, 12; 8. Michael Schumacher, 9; 9. Vitantonio Liuzzi, 8; 10. Mark Webber, 6.
Constructors� championship:
1. Ferrari, 70 points; 2. McLaren-Mercedes, 54; 3. Mercedes-Benz, 29; 4. Red Bull-Renault and Renault, 18; 6. Force India-Mercedes, 8; 7. Williams-Cosworth, 5.