Schumacher's hollow victory

Michael Schumacher leads into the first corner

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Michael Schumacher began the new Formula One season in commanding form, but celebrations were muted after it emerged a track marshal was killed following an accident.

Jacques Villeneuve and Ralf Schumacher came together, catapulting the Canadian's BAR into a concrete wall on lap five.

Both drivers escaped unhurt as two wheels came off Villeneuve's car but it later emerged that a track marshal lost his life in the accident.

After the race a subdued Schumacher said: "We are all shocked about this and we have to look and see what we can do."

On the track Schumacher led from start to finish in the Australian Grand Prix as he made the perfect start to defending his crown.

The German was rarely troubled, particularly after his chief rival, McLaren's Mika Hakkinen crashed out on lap 25 when placed second.

It was the second year in a row that Hakkinen had failed to finish the opening race of the campaign, but the accident appeared to be caused by a right front suspension failure.

His departure left team-mate David Coulthard to offer the closest challenge to Schumacher with Rubens Barrichello third.

Schumacher made an outstanding start to the race, heading the field into the opening corner.

But team-mate Barrichello dropped back from second to fifth.

In an effort to make up lost ground Barrichello tried to dive down the inside of Heinz-Harald Frentzen on lap three.

But the two cars to collided to relegate the Jordan driver down to 14th place.

After Villeneuve and Ralf Schumacher's accident the safety car came out on to the track for 10 laps.

At the head of the race Michael Schumacher set a series of fastest laps to pull away from Hakkinen before the Finn crashed out.

Coulthard took advanatge of Barrichello being caught behind a back-marker to split the Ferrari drivers.

But despite leading briefly when Schumacher stopped for new tyres, the Scot was powerless to change the outcome.

Coulthard closed the gap on Schumacher in the closing stages, but could do nothing to stop the German from recording his 45th Grand Prix victory and his fifth in succession.

Result after 58 laps:
1. M Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari
2. D. Coulthard (GBR) McLaren
3. R. Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari
4. N. Heidfeld (Ger) Sauber
5. H-H Frentzen (Ger) Jordan
6. K. Raikkonen (Fin) Sauber