Top 5 F1 season-openers in history

#1 - Australia 2003

The 2003 Australian GP was one of the most eventful around Melbourne

After 3 titles in a row, one could be forgiven for feeling a sense of déjà vu when Michael Schumacher claimed pole around the Albert Park circuit in 2003. However, a jumbled-up grid in qualifying coupled with a damp track from rain earlier in the day produced a fantastic race.

After a hectic start, the Safety Car came out on Lap 7 to stabilise the field, thanks to the offs of Rubens Barrichello and Ralph Firman. Juan Pablo Montoya led the race after that affair, and by Lap 36 of 58, was chased by Kimi Raikkonen's McLaren and M Schumacher’s Ferrari. Michael was desperate to pass the McLaren and close up to Montoya, but a lunge down the outside of Turn 1 ruined his chances of doing so. The German tried to take Kimi around the outside but was forced off and damaged his car.

With just 8 laps remaining, as Montoya looked set to win the race, David Coulthard was closing, but the Brit was still a few seconds back. The Williams driver then did something completely unexpected, he went into Turn 1 too fast, spun around and gifted the lead to the McLaren. Coulthard was a hardened veteran of F1 and was never going to make the same mistake. Montoya limped home to get second place but it could’ve so easily been the Colombian’s second win the sport.

What do you think is the most eventful F1 opening race ever? Was it one we listed or another we missed? Let us know in the comments below!