Underdogs to the recue

Success-starved Williams, Toyota and Formula One newcomers Brawn signalled they could be ready for breakthrough wins by dominating practice on Friday ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The presence of the three teams atop the time sheets will infuriate their rivals, some of whom are convinced their bodywork is illegal. Williams, Toyota and Brawn showed impressive pace, aided by the additional downforce created by their rear diffusers which rival teams claim are too large and infringe new aerodynamics rules. The three teams are racing under appeal this weekend, with other teams set to challenge the legality of their cars following next weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Williams’ Nico Rosberg was quickest in both the opening and second sessions, posting a best of 1 minute, 26.053 seconds in the second session. Brawn’s Rubens Barrichello was second fastest in the second session with 1:26.157, ahead of Toyota’s Jarno Trulli on 1:26.350.

Trulli was among the drivers complaining of low tyre grip. “I am still not completely happy with the car balance and, even though when you look at the timing sheets things look pretty good for us, the car isn’t completely comfortable to drive,” Trulli said.

Williams, seven-time winners of the drivers’ championship and nine-time constructors’ champions, have not won a race since the final event of the 2004 season at Brazil—a run of 72 races without victory. Toyota are yet to win a race since entering F1 in 2002, while Brawn took over the former Honda team after the Japanese carmaker pulled out following the 2008 season.

Australia’s Mark Webber steered his Red Bull to a fourth quickest time in the second session after a reliability issue in the opening stint. Brawn’s Jenson Button was sixth in session two, ahead of Toyota’s Timo Glock, Williams’ Kazuki Nakajima and Red Bull’s Sebastien Vettel.