Rosberg on board with repeat result.

There is something about the opening round of the season where Nico Rosberg is concerned, as the German repeated his Bahrain result from last season to a tee to claim seventh place - and two points - in Melbourne.

There is something about the opening round of the season where Nico Rosberg is concerned, as the German repeated his Bahrain result from last season to a tee to claim seventh place - and two points - in Melbourne.

The only things missing from a complete replication of the Sakhir performance were fastest lap and a 'come from the back' recovery as the Williams driver converted twelfth on the grid into the team's first scoring finish in 13 races, dating back to early 2006. This time around, with a year of experience - and a slightly better machine - under him, Rosberg proved to be unheralded story of the race, quietly turning an upturn in performance from the FW29-Toyota into points, and recording the fifth fastest lap of the race.

He even showed some of the form that carried him to the inaugural GP2 title - and from the back of the field to seventh in Bahrain twelve months ago - with a gutsy move on Toyota 'works' driver Ralf Schumacher that ultimately yielded the seventh place.

"I wasn't perhaps expecting today would turn out so well, but I started last year's first race from twelfth place and finished seventh, so I thought I could maybe do it again," he smiled, "I have taken the best out of our car today and I was particularly happy that overtaking Ralf was successful - I was taking a chance of course, but you've got to try it and it was good for the team."

After qualifying failed to live up to expectation for either Rosberg or team-mate Alex Wurz, the team knows what it will be looking at during the forthcoming Sepang test, in order to be closer to the front at the start of round two in three weeks' time, but the German had few problems to report from the race.

"The new regulation requiring us to use both tyre types mixed it up a bit and, although I did suffer some graining late in the race, it didn't matter because I didn't have anyone close in front or behind me," he reported, "However, at the next test in Malaysia, we have to improve to keep progressing."

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