Schumacher off to flying start

World champion Michael Schumacher has made the perfect start to his campaign to claim five Formula One titles by winning the first race of the new season in Australia.

The Ferrari driver was forced to battle his way into the lead after the positions were shaken up by a massive first-corner accident that took out pole position man Rubens Barrichello.

But once Schumacher had passed Juan Pablo Montoya's Williams-BMW on lap 16, the German dominated the event on the way to the 54th victory of his Grand Prix career.

Montoya was second, with Kimi Raikkonen third on his debut for McLaren as only eight cars finished the race.

" Michael drove around the outside like I was parked there and just drove into the distance "
Juan Pablo Montoya

Jaguar's Eddie Irvine benefited from the high attrition rate to claim an unexpected fourth, while Mark Webber was fifth for Minardi on his debut, holding off Mika Salo, who was sixth in Toyota's first race.

David Coulthard and McLaren-Mercedes failed to get an early advantage over Schumacher in their anticipated battle for the championship.

The Scot led after the first-corner accident, and through two early safety-car periods, but was delayed by gearbox problems that eventually led to his retirement on lap 36.

The first-corner accident took out eight cars and was caused by a collision between Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher.

Barrichello weaved across the track several times trying to defend his lead from the Williams, which had made a better start.

But the Brazilian's final move caught out Schumacher, who smashed into the back of the Ferrari and was launched into the air.

Snapped out of control

In the confusion, several cars collided behind the front-runners.

When the smoke cleared, the BAR of Olivier Panis, both Saubers, Giancarlo Fisichella's Jordan, Jenson Button of Benetton, and debutant Allan McNish's Toyota were all out of the race.

The accident brought out the safety car and left Coulthard leading from Renault driver Jarno Trulli, Montoya and Michael Schumacher.

At the restart on lap six, Coulthard made a break as Trulli held off Schumacher.

The Italian seemed to have things under control until the start of lap nine, when his car snapped sideways exiting the second corner.

It looked as if there might have been an electronics malfunction, but the team said they suspected their had been a patch of oil on the circuit, which suggests Trulli made a mistake.

The Renault crashed into the wall and was stranded in the middle of the track, bringing out the safety car for the second time.

At the second restart, Montoya snatched the lead from Schumacher, but despite a three-lap battle, he could not hold the Ferrari back.

Montoya said: "It was a good battle. For a couple of laps I thought I would be competitive but as soon as his tyres were hot it was a matter of time.

"He drove around the outside like I was parked there and just drove into the distance afterwards."

Results from the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne:

1 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari
2 Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) Williams 1:27.249
3 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren 1:27.161
4 Eddie Irvine (GB) Jaguar
5 Mark Webber (Aus) Minardi
6 Mika Salo (Fin) Toyota
7 Alex Yoong (Mal)Minardi
8 Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) Jaguar
R David Coulthard (GB) McLaren
R Takuma Sato (Jap) Jordan
R Jarno Trulli (Ita)
R Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Ferrari
R Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Williams
R Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Jordan
R Felipe Massa (Bra) Sauber
R Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Sauber
R Jenson Button (GB) Renault
R Olivier Panis (Fra) BAR
R Allan McNish (GB) Toyota
DQ Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Ger) Arrows
DQ Enrique Bernoldi (Bra) Arrows

World championship standings:

Drivers' championship:
1 Schumacher 10 points
2 Montoya 6
3 Raikkonen 4
4 Irvine 3
5 Webber 2
6 Salo 1

Constructors' championship:
1 Ferrari 10
2 Williams 6
3 McLaren 4
4 Jaguar 3
5 Minardi 2
6 Toyota 1

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