Video. Top 5 spectacular opening races

5. 2017 Australian Grand Prix
Since 2014 and the revolution of the V6 Turbo hybrid engine, Mercedes crushes the competition from the first laps of the track. But last year, revolt rumbled among the Team Ferrari. Fans (and more broadly fans of F1) get excited when Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) dislodges Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) from its pedestal after the wave of pit stops. The Silver Arrow is unable to keep up with the pace of the Ferrari, and the four-time world champion sings the Italian anthem for the first time in a year and a half.

4. 2005 Australian Grand Prix
Until this Sunday in March 2005, the team Renault was considered second best, capable of numerous podiums but far from being able to aim for world titles. Along Albert Park, everything changes! We feared a race led quietly by Michael Schumacher (Ferrari); no way. The German misses his qualifiers due to rain, then clashes with Nick Heidfeld (Williams-BMW).

Among the Blues and Yellows, the R25 of Giancarlo Fisichella et Fernando Alonso runs like a clock. The Italian signs the victory from pole position, while the future number 1 sets the fastest lap in the race and moves up from 13th to 3rd place in the final. Enough to put French fans in a good mood from breakfast onwards.

3. 1990 United States Grand Prix
One of the worst circuits to have received Formula 1 paradoxically offered a moment of bravery in 1990. With its 15 90-degree turns, the Phoenix track (United States) was the scene of an unprecedented battle between Ayrton Senna (McLaren) and a fiery Avignonnais: Jean Alesi. Despite a Tyrell less competitive than the Brazilian's machine, Jean Alesi leads the first 34 laps of the race. Ayrton Senna comes back like a plane, the fight is decided in advance, but the Frenchman fights valiantly. Ken Tyrell, the boss of the eponymous team, watches the parade with a frank smile and the Japanese commentators speak up:

Jean Alesi eventually gave in but only finished eight seconds behind the triple world champion, even though he was competing in his first full F1 season.

2. 2003 Australian Grand Prix
The opening round is often a good preview of the season to follow; the 2003 Melbourne GP is proof of this. No, Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) did not impose itself (the champagne honors went to David Coulthard on McLaren). The Red Baron is pushed around by the youngster Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren), this one pushing the German into the grass after a duel. The mechanics then failed, with a sliding deflector in front of the left pontoon.

flamboyant, Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW) got confused while leading the race with eight laps remaining.

Later, Michael Schumacher narrowly won the championship, while Montoya alone ruined his title chances by catching Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari) in the United States and Kimi Räikkönen revealed himself as the "Kaiser's" toughest rival.  

1. 2002 Australian Grand Prix
Not necessarily the most beautiful event, but certainly the craziest! At the start of the first turn, Ralf Schumacher (Williams-BMW) forgets to apply the brakes, and becomes a plane pilot on the back of poor Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari). Behind, there is chaos, between the plumes of smoke, six cars collide and abandon.

After the neutralization, Jarno Trulli bravely defended the colors of Renault against Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) and Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams-BMW). But for its official return to F1, Renault was not rewarded, with the Italian's accident.

At the end of the event, the Australian spectators are passionate about a duel for 5th place between the country's child Mark Webber (Minardi) and Mika Salo, then at the wheel of the new Toyota. The latter makes an error, allowing the small Italian team to score two points for victory. Mark Webber and Paul Stoddart are even allowed to stand on the podium!

In the midst of all this excitement, Schumi’s 54th victory inevitably takes a back seat…