Formula One champion Michael Schumacher showed last year's Ferrari was still the car to beat today with the fastest lap in the opening free practice session of 2002.
The German, who has won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix for the last two years, fired up his campaign for a record-equalling fifth world title with a strong statement of intent in the same Ferrari model he used last season.
His fastest lap of one minute 27.276 seconds was 0.523 quicker than second-placed Brazilian team mate Rubens Barrichello and less than half a second outside the time he set to seize pole position last year.
Although teams were testing different setups in free practice, the Mercedes-powered McLarens were left way down the order.
Last year's runner-up David Coulthard was 11th with a best time of 1:30.312, and his new Finnish team mate, Kimi Raikkonen, was seventh.
Schumacher's younger brother, Ralf, was third-fastest overall in 1:28.821 with Williams team mate Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya 0.049 behind in fourth place.