MOTOR SPORT/Formula One Championship: As the Formula One circus rolled into Melbourne this week the priority for most teams was to find some way to put a brake on the Renault bandwagon that had powered the world champion Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella to victories in the first two races of the season.
Fisichella had also dominated last year's race in Melbourne on the Albert Park circuit and, while the Italian's efforts in yesterday's first free practice sessions were cut short by a fuel feed problem, it is clear he and his team-mate must be regarded as potential winners of every race.
"We seem to be in good shape," said Alonso after setting the fifth fastest time, six places ahead of Fisichella. "The grip levels will improve as more rubber goes down on the track, but at the moment the Renault feels nice to drive and our pace is good."
Anthony Davidson set the pace for Honda ahead of the Williams test driver Alex Wurz and BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica, who suffered an engine failure during the first of the two hour-long sessions. That left Jenson Button fastest of the serious race contenders, the British driver lapping 0.2 second faster than Alonso, Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen's McLaren-Mercedes MP4-21. The local hero Mark Webber had a heart-stopping moment on the opening lap when his Williams FW28 suddenly slowed with a suspected hydraulic problem.
Button has backed Rubens Barrichello to prove his worth at Honda, even though the ex-Ferrari man admits he is struggling to adapt to life with a new team. Barrichello jumped ship over the winter and was expected to provide new team-mate Button with a stern test. But life away from Formula One's most successful team has been a major disappointment, leaving Barrichello pointless after two dismal performances. Button is surprised by the ease in which he has beaten Barrichello so far but expects the nine-time grands prix winner to bounce back.
"I think he has struggled a little bit to get to grips with the car," Button said. "We do have a different style and the car probably suits my style a little bit more, not because it's been built around me. I think he does need to adapt. There are some improvements coming which will help both of us. I was a little bit surprised in Malaysia (when Barrichello was 10th).
"He's having issues and when he solves them I'm sure he'll be there because he is quick, very quick."
Team boss Nick Fry expects an improvement in Barrichello's form, although he is not holding his breath for this weekend's race. "I wouldn't expect change overnight," he said. "I would expect Rubens's performance to improve race by race as he gets more used to the team. We have made some changes to the car. These are genuine improvements to the car, they will help Jenson as well."
Barrichello expected to step out of Michael Schumacher's shadow at Honda after years of playing second fiddle to the multiple champion at Ferrari. But the 33-year-old concedes he is off the pace in his new environment after failing to get used to his car. "It is disappointing," he said. But he is trying to remain optimistic as he looks to eat into Button's 11-point head start. "This is one of my favourite races. I love the place. Melbourne is the third race this year but for me it's just like the first race because I haven't scored in the other ones".
David Richards's Prodrive organisation has been confirmed as one of the teams to have applied for entries in the 2008 world championship which closed yesterday, while Paul Stoddart, the Australian aviation millionaire who sold his Minardi team to Red Bull last year, is also attempting to make a Formula One comeback.
