[Official] Driver of the race : Australian GP

[Born Racer]

Who is your driver of the race?

[dsg]

I think Alonso was pretty good getting the Ferrari home in 5th.

[Born Racer]

I went for Alonso too.

Kobayashi and Perez both did really well. But will Sauber slip back as other teams gain ground? Sauber are such a good team. They consistently start seasons well.

Button was brilliant.

[Armco Bender]

Maldonado for 99.5% of the race....

[barnettracing]

There were quite a few good drives. As much as I really don't rate him, on lap 57 I would have voted Maldonado but then he decided to needlessly stuff it into the wall.

Alonso drove very well to get more than should be possible out a dog of a car, but he always does that. So, my vote goes to Perez. He should've been 7th however, 22nd to 8th was a fantastic achievement after another mammoth stint on one set of tyres (just like last year).

Button and Raikonnen get honourable mentions too.

[Adam43]

Jenson because he is British.

What? It is the 'joke' that never dies.

[safc_fan89]

Maldonado was a bit ragged at times (collision with Grosjean seemed unnecessary when Grosjean had left him plenty of space, and he ran wide at one point too).

I'd give it to Alonso. Hammered his teammate yesterday and today, and did well to hang onto his position at the end. It's nice to see him performing well in a crap car, but Ferrari really do need to give him a good car.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Could have gone for Button, because he is British but went for Kimi. A good solid drive, after his lengthy sabbatical. I didn't see him put a wheel wrong.

[Fox89]

Gotta go to Perez, wonderful work with the same strategy as last year. Button obviously was very good as well and Vettel too.

[MrTTraces]

Good race, highlighted here by the variety of DOR.

Koby for me

[Grandpa_Rob]

Perez gutsy strategy and drive .

[Super Hans]

Considering how highly I rate Hamilton, I'd have to give it to Button. It is difficult to believe that nobody put this man in a competitive car until 2009.

[Knowlesy]

Alonso because he likes paella.

[garcon]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Jenson because he is British.

What? It is the 'joke' that never dies.

I see a flaw in your logic sir.

Voting for Hamilton "because he is British" I can understand.

But backing the winner is a very un-British thing to do.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Super Hans

Considering how highly I rate Hamilton, I'd have to give it to Button. It is difficult to believe that nobody put this man in a competitive car until 2009.

All those years of racing in not very competative cars have really honed his race craft. He is a very smooth driver and that combined with his uncanny sense of how to use the tyres is what makes him stand out.

It's very early days yet but I would like to see him win the title again.

[Knowlesy]

I think what you have to remember as well with Button is he has had those chastening years. He has had the times where he surrendered to the flashy boats and celebrity circuit. He has had the seasons where he has been bettered by Fisichella and Barrichello. He is mature and the better for it and is an example to Hamilton, who is having the same issues and will come through.

[Mr V]

Was gutted when Maldonado stuffed it, and i thought he was a bit naughty on Grosjean. But as he didn't finish the race gonna have to give it Jenson. Peerless today!

[andy666]

Alonso for a good result in a doggy car , mentions for Button, Perez , Koby and the Iceman . I dont rate Maldonado that much but he impressed me today until he binned it !!!!

[£123]

Crashonado drove brilliantly for most of the race, so he'll get my vote out of sympathy. Very underrated driver anyway. Outperformed Barrichello for most of last season and had a few really good drives in an otherwise really bad car. Didn't show in the points though due to some bad luck (Hamilton t-bone etc).

[Tourer]

i've been captain obvious and voted for J Button - smooth, controlled, drove away from his team mate (& everyone else) and did it all with class. Very, very good way to start the season.

[pauln]

Kobiyashi for me - some good clean moves and some intelligent defending against Kimi (who gets an honourable mention). I'm another who would have gone for Maldonado up to the last lap.

[formerf1champ]

I know the poll is to pick one driver. But, since I can express it this way in a thread, I'll display it using a Brownlow Medal count...

3 votes F.Alonso Ferrari
2 votes K.Raikkonen Lotus
1 vote J.Button Mclaren

Originally Posted by Super Hans

Considering how highly I rate Hamilton, I'd have to give it to Button. It is difficult to believe that nobody put this man in a competitive car until 2009.

You can look at it that way. However, I thought, at the time and for a few years after, he was put in GP prematurely in the first place.

[Super Hans]

Originally Posted by formerf1champ

You can look at it that way. However, I thought, at the time and for a few years after, he was put in GP prematurely in the first place.

If he hadn't been given a shot in 2000, he'd have been knackered. He was all out of money after British F3 and had no backing to continue. If he hadn't impressed in the Prost test, and subsequently beat Junqueira to the Williams drive, he probably would never have reached F1.

[barnettracing]

Originally Posted by Super Hans

If he hadn't been given a shot in 2000, he'd have been knackered. He was all out of money after British F3 and had no backing to continue. If he hadn't impressed in the Prost test, and subsequently beat Junqueira to the Williams drive, he probably would never have reached F1.

This. The money wasn't there for a truly competitive BF3 drive in 1999 so he had to take the F1 drive. He would have been a fool not too. Anyway, I've always rated Button.

Raikonnen certainly looked very good for a driver who has been out of the fold for a while.

It's a shame that Schumacher went out so early. He has looked impressive so far through testing/practice/qualifying. Rosberg faded quite badly but Schumacher appears to be the better racer of the two anyway. I think a top 5 was certainly on the cards for him, probably behind Webber and ahead of Alonso. Thoughts?

[Marbot]