Melbourne holds good memories for Button

Seven years ago Jenson Button began his F1 career in Melbourne – venue of this weekend’s opening round of the 2007 FIA Formula One World Championship – and the Australian city and its Albert Park circuit are real favourites for the Englishman.

Button said: "Obviously Melbourne is a very special place for me as the circuit where I made my F1 debut. But it's more than just the race track in Albert Park. I love the very special atmosphere of the city, both in its own right and from the sheer buzz involved in being at the first race of the season. The setting of the circuit is also one of the best on the calendar.

“Once I'm in Australia, in the immediate run-up to the race, I will be getting down to some more serious training. I've got a friend there who I go riding with down around the coast beyond St Kilda. It's a terrific place to prepare for the race and when I'm not training, I will be checking out the local restaurants, which are great.

“The weather conditions for the race can be pretty variable. One year it can be cold with the winds blowing up from the Antarctic and the next it can be really warm. I much prefer it when the weather is warm so fingers crossed for this year.

“Being the first race it can get a little bit chaotic going down to the first corner. The track is very bumpy and you have to be careful not to lock up your wheels over the bumps into the braking area and just stay out of trouble really. The start is the best place to overtake. You can also get past into Ascari, the fast right hander after the back straight, once you come cleanly off the fast left-right bend at Waite. There is also a slim possibility of squeezing by into turn three.

“It is very important to get your corner apexes right here. On some circuits braking is the most important thing, but here there are so many chicanes and ess-bends that you have to be very precise and consistent.

“Everything that you have been working on over the winter needs to come together for the first race of the season, so its about choosing the right race strategy, making sure that the pit crew get everything right and good mechanical reliability.”