Free Practice 3 – Williams, Toyota and Brawn GP, the Winning Trio

While a possible reaction from the ‘big’ teams was expected, Nico Rosberg for Williams confirms his supremacy on this first race weekend in Australia. After Free Practice 1 and 2, he dominates this third and final pre-qualifying session. Jarno Trulli (Toyota) and Jenson Button (Brawn GP) step onto the podium, sowing doubt in the paddock.

Nico Rosberg felt good in the single-seater yesterday, and he proved again this morning that he has what it takes to fight for the Grand Prix victory. The German is ahead by three thousandths of a second of Jarno Trulli’s Toyota in ideal weather conditions with no risk of rain. Both drivers battled in the final moments, preparing for qualification, to set the fastest lap. They’ve even improved on last year’s time, indicating that the changes in regulations have not decreased Formula 1 performance.

Button secures with Brawn GP just 173 thousandths behind Rosberg. The Briton is one of the favorites for the Grand Prix along with his teammate Barrichello, who is in 6th place. Both men sported a car with new colors for the occasion: Virgin has apparently become the team’s main sponsor overnight.

Behind, the usually leading teams are finally making an appearance. Ferrari with Massa in 4th place; A mixed result since reliability is still not there. Kimi Räikkönen stopped 23 minutes after the session began and was unable to deliver a competitive time: hydraulic problem on car number 4.

Nakajima is 5th, ahead of the second Brawn GP and Mark Webber. On his Red Bull and at home, the Australian is the second driver in the standings if we remove the cars with special diffusers. The Red Bull RB4 therefore seems to be able to perform well this afternoon. His teammate, Vettel, is 13th. The German had some issues during the session with problematic brakes. He returned to the pits well before the others.

Eighth, Glock confirms that Toyota is a force for now, putting Williams, Toyota, and Brawn GP as the favorites for the qualifiers this afternoon. The BMWs are 9th and 10th and the McLarens 11th and 12th, performing better than during the winter.

Behind, Force India, Toro Rosso, and Renault share the bottom of the standings. Bourdais narrowly leads his teammate while Alonso is only 17th. Worse, his teammate Nelson Piquet is already causing concern. The Brazilian went off track yesterday and several times again this morning. He is three-tenths behind Fisichella and completed a very slow first lap, possibly a strategy to test the tires.

Finally, note that the best times, achieved during the last stint, were accomplished with soft tires. Hard tires, therefore, seem to be reserved for long stints, like last year; Slicks or not.

Free Practice 3 Results – Australian GP – Saturday, 28 March 2009: