The same can arguably be said of
Red Bull Racing, which endured a similar time of things to
Toyota in the season-opener, with one car heavily damaged – that of
David Coulthard following hefty contact with Massa's
Ferrari – and the other retiring early on. RBR has not troubled the scorers in Malaysia since its first race there three years ago, but the Milton Keynes-based outfit will clearly be keen to open its 2008 account this time around, following its luckless outing four days ago.
Honda, by contrast, far exceeded expectations Down Under, and Barrichello looked to have scored his first points in 18 starts until he was excluded from sixth place for exiting the pit-lane whilst the red light was still showing during the third and final safety car period. Both the Brazilian and team-mate
Jenson Button could take hope, however, from a much more encouraging start to the campaign than the Brackley-based concern suffered last year – and a far more impressive performance than winter testing of the new RA108 challenger had suggested would be the case.
Scuderia Toro Rosso was another team that was out of luck in Melbourne, with
F1 rookie and four-time Champ Car king Sébastien Bourdais agonisingly denied a dream fourth place finish on his grand prix debut by engine failure almost within sight of the chequered flag. Team-mate
Sebastian Vettel was one of the victims of the first lap shenanigans that removed a number of drivers from the fray, and though such a fortuitous scenario is unlikely to repeat itself in Sepang, the pair can nevertheless be counted upon to give it their all to hoist
STR up amongst the scorers once more.
