What's gone on down under so far

I don't usually write Qualifying low-down's, last season became repetitive when it came to the drivers putting in their best lap, all but a few times 2011 quali was a breeze for Sebastian Vettel, he clenched pole after pole with pointed finger in tow.

Sebastian's dominance in Formula 1 seems to have turned tables proving for a thrilling qualifying session at Albert Park in Melbourne, so how could i not write up my thoughts on such an exciting start to the season?!

Throughout the previous practise session, teams were all over the place, with different tests and runs going on, rain on Friday and a lack of grip around the track has proved tricky for the majority of the drivers, this could be an accumulation of factors: the ban of the off-throttle blown diffuser or the fact that it is a street circuit, laying down rubber hasn't been happening this weekend.

Qualifying:

With the sun shining down on the street track, quali was underway. Q1 was a shocker for all the wrong reasons; both HRT's cars failed to set a lap time in the 107% rule, with a severe lack of track action this weekend it was hardly surprising however Narain Karthikeyan kicked up controversy after holding up others when they were on flying laps. As a result of HRT's lack of running and unable to set a competitive time they will NOT be participating in the Grand Prix tomorrow, sound familiar?

At the back of the grid will be Sergio Perez after being demoted 5 grid places due to a gearbox change, joining him at the back will be both Marussia cars (Charles Pic and Timo Glock) and both Caterham's (Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov)

The most shocking was the knock-out of Kimi Raikkonen who didn't make it in to Q2, a strategy mishap see's him starting in 17th after gaining a place because of Perez's grid drop.

Q2 didn't fail to drum up excitement when Fernando Alonso beached the Ferrari in the gravel early on in the session, an extremely disappointing weekend of the team with Felipe Massa qualifying behind his team mate (even though Alonso stuck it in the gravel) in 16th, a serious re-evaluation to take place at Ferrari, the drivers have been battling with the rear end unable to tame the prancing horse. 

Paul Di Resta had a qualifying to forget after only managing to get 15th while teammate Nico Hulkenberg went through to Q3 (starting 9th)

Q3 saw the racer from Perth, Daniel Ricciardo through, he didn't set a time and starts in 10th for his first home Grand Prix.

Pastor Maldonado put a great effort, qualifying in 8th, in what appears to be a much more competitive Williams this season, which is a relief to see! 

While Mercedes looked strong all through practise' with controversy over their DRS activated f-duct, which the FIA say is legal, under pressure to be up the front Nico Rosberg could only manage 7th when it mattered, Michael Schumacher starts 4th.

Red Bull's didn't look so dominant with Vettel starting in 6th behind team mate Mark Webber - both Aussies in the top 10 for the Australian Grand Prix.

The shocker of Q3 was Romain Grosjean who sits behind both McLaren's in 3rd - a superb effort from the returnee Frenchman, fast, precise and made it count on his debut with Lotus, let's see if he can translate that in to a good race position.

Fronting the field from pole position in tomorrow's GP is Lewis Hamilton, a turn around from last year and a positive winter for the McLaren team has certainly started to pay off with Jenson Button starting behind his teammate. 

It is all to race for, with a tight grid who know's what'll happen tomorrow but i for one, can't wait for the 2012 season opener!