Top 5 Season Opener Moments

So the F1 2013 Season Opener in Melbourne is closing in, so I thought why not share  some of my favourite moments from past first races of the season with you.

An avid fan of Formula 1 since 2004, that will be the starting point of this articles time line. So between 2004 and 2013, what have been my Top 5 moments from the season openers? There have been some fantastic, dramatic and controversial highlights, comment yours below, tweet me @JackLeslieF1 or leave a comment on the JLF1 Blog Facebook page.

So I thought it would be best to start from 5, and work my way down to my favourite moment. Obviously you have to understand this is my view, and I may have missed "that brilliant moment from 1974", but this is just from what I have watched. I would love to hear your thoughts though, and learn about past first races.

2013 looks set to start with a bang in Australia, which has typically been the location for the F1 season openers. The Albert Park circuit has created some beautiful memories, which is where I start at number 5.

5) Fisichella Returns to Winning Ways

With only one Grand Prix victory under his belt at the time, the pressure was on for Giancarlo Fisichella to impress. He made the switch to Renault for 2005, which looked to have the edge going in to the season. In a way, he has always been unlucky. Up until the move to the French team, he had rarely raced in a front running car and was restricted to the midfield. So at the season opener in Australia, he brilliantly took victory in controlled style. Starting from pole, he managed the gap and never looked under threat. Fernando Alonso in the sister Renault may have clinched the fastest lap and had the best out right pace, but Giancarlo was calm and undetered in the lead. It was fantastic to see him return to winning ways and signal a new chapter for him at Renault.

Formula 1 rarely kicks off away from the stunning sunshine of Australia, but when it does not, there are still memories to be had. Take 2006 as an example, where Formula 1 headed for Bahrain. 

4) Nico Shows Promise on Debut

I love a rookie driver coming in to the sport, a fresh face that brings youth, enthusiasm and often raw speed in need of being tamed. This often creates a fascinating race to watch from that one driver’s perspective, and Nico Rosberg's debut for Williams at the 2006 season opener in Bahrain was something very special indeed. Some may not regard it as one of their "Top Moments", but as an 11 year old boy at the time I was in awe at how he turned it around. Starting in the midfield, he tangled with fellow German Nick Heidfeld at the first corner and had to pit for a new nose. This was not the most promising of starts. However the next 56 laps were a fantastic mix of speed, precision and race craft that you would expect from someone with far more experience. After disposing of the two Red Bull cars late in the race, he ended up finishing in seventh place. He also snatched the fastest lap of the race and whilst Alonso and Schumacher closely battled at the front, it was quite an eventful debut and one that I remember well.

It's difficult to make an impact at the first race of the season, but some teams manage to pull it off. Ferrari have done previously, as have Red Bull. But in 2012, a year closer to present day, it was McLaren's turn.

3) McLaren Make a Magnificent Start

This moment is more recent, one that focuses on the first round of the 2012 season. Now as we all know, it was one to remember but at the start of the year we were all in the dark. With new regulations and Red Bull's domination in 2011, we did not know who would end up on top. However after Qualifying, we certainly knew where to place out bets. McLaren are not known for their stunning starts to the season, but in 2012 they managed to fill up the front row. Hamilton was on pole, with Button alongside, but it was the latter that got the best getaway when race day arrived. From there on, Jenson controlled the race and managed the gap to the cars behind. It was sublime racing from the Brit and I was happy to see the team start the season so well, seeing as in the past it has been one of their downfalls. Hamilton came home third, losing out to Vettel in the safety car. In the midfield the battles were close, Maldonado ended up crashing on the last lap and people were vying for position right up until the flag. A dramatic and thrill-filled start to the year, and it only got better from there. 

Formula 1 debuts are important, to make an impact and show that you deserve to be racing on the grid. Some go smoothly, others not so much. It was the former case in 2007 that had our eyes glued to the TV screen.

2) Hamilton Impresses from the Get Go

It is unusual for a driver to finish on the podium in their second F1 season, let alone their first. Lewis Hamilton may have been helped by constant development and backing from McLaren throughout his career, but it was certainly a big talking point at the time. It is rare for a rookie to enter such a strong team like McLaren, so before the season started I was sceptical. I personally felt he would not match Alonso, would take time to develop but could maybe scrape a victory later in the year. However what I did not predict was this. Lining up fourth on the grid, the Brit had a decent start but lost a place to Kubica in the BMW Sauber. Switching strategy, he moved to the outside and managed to sweep past both Kubica and Alonso, up into third place. He soon moved up to second thanks to Nick Heidfeld's slower pace, but dropped behind Alonso at the second pit stops. Lewis continued to drop back but it was still an impressive drive from someone who was debuting. The only way really was up for Hamilton that year; he took us all by surprise. 

The Formula 1 Winter can be a tough time for many, even more so when the walls are closing in and time is running out. I rarely mentioned the words miracle and Formula 1 in the same breath, but this one comes close.

1) Fairytale Debut for Brawn GP

I try to stay biased in my writing, but it can be difficult and I will always be a fan of Jenson Button. Since the start of my love for F1, I have always supported him and routed for him. So when I found out Honda had pulled out of F1, I was obviously disappointed. However what I did not expect was that Ross Brawn would purchase the team and produce one of the fastest cars of the season, if not the fastest. It really was a dream debut for Brawn GP, who capitalised on the radical rule changes and got the jump on the trailing field. Button lined up on pole, with team-mate Rubens Barrichello alongside. Jenson was in a world of his own and was rarely challenged, managing to stay out of trouble and keep a good pace. It looked pretty effortless, and maybe it was. But no one expected the team to win on its debut, with no sponsorship and the fact that a few months earlier there was no Brawn GP. It still makes me smile today.

As I mentioned earlier, Melbourne has hosted the season opener for some time. However, the odd first race away from Australia has certainly produced the goods too. I have shared my Top 5 Moments, ahead of the 2013 season. What are yours?