Live - Australian GP practice

LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY (all times GMT)

By Sam Lyon

To get involved text us your views & comments on 81111 with FORMULA 1 before your message. (Not all contributions can be used)

0137: So far, all but Fernando Alonso and Rubens Barrichello have been or are out on the track. Good times so far from Giancarlo Fisichella - the Force India driver is the early pace-setter, but one would imagine that will change a fair few times in the coming hours.

0130: Ladies and gentleman, the first official practice of the new season is under way.

0129: "It's time for Brawn GP to show us what they're really made of. I for one am hoping the old Ferrari / McLaren hegemony is going to get a reality check from the small boys."
Tom in Oxford

0126: "It's going to be a cracking weekend. So many unanswered questions, a plot thick from the grid. Bring it on!"
Tom, Bangor, up all night!

0123: As if I wasn't excited enough, the news that Leo Sayer is at the track really has made me feel like dancing (sorry). So, just your average build-up to a season then, right? Rule changes, Honda out-Brawn GP in, a new points system in and then back out, protests about rival cars… and that's before we even start discussing the drivers and the cars! Ooh, we're moments away from the start of practice now… I'm so excited I may implode.
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0119: "Never have I been so excited about a practice session, let alone qualifying and the race itself. Will all our questions be answered in first practice? Probably not. Here's to a late night and the 2009 season!"
Ray via text

0116: "No work tomorrow, will be staying up with ya to watch online Sam. Think it's Raikkonen's if he wants it this weekend, but I'm gutted Lewis won't be up there."
Gav in Essex via text

0113: And, of course, we have our own intrepid reporter on the scene - the lovely Sarah Holt. "Good morning from Melbourne. The skies above Albert Park may be overcast but they're buzzing with the sound of helicopters - which we can only assume is Australia's great and good flying in for the first practice. One celebrity already making a name for himself in the paddock is Seventies popstrel Leo Sayer. The Brit is now an Aussie citizen and has already been joking about this summer's Ashes - apparently he's undecided about which side to support. He's been seen at pretty much most of the teams' hospitality areas over the last two days so he's probably not pledging his allegiance when it comes to F1 cars either."

0111: So what can you expect from us in the coming days and months? Well, Jake Humphrey presents our TV coverage, alongside 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard and former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan. Commentary will come from Jonathan Legard and award-winning broadcaster Martin Brundle. The 5 live commentary team is led by David Croft alongside new signing Formula One driver Anthony Davidson and pit lane reporter Holly Samos. And, with a doff of the cap to my fearless leader, hugely respected F1 journalist Andrew Benson leads the web team. Jubbly.
Meet the BBC's Formula 1 team

0105: First things first, we have Friday's first practice coming up from 0130 GMT, and so now would be an absolutely splendid time for all you good people to get in touch with your thoughts, musings and expectations for the new season and this weekend. You can text me and the 5 Live team on 81111 and we will use the best of them, giving you your 15 minutes of fame. What are you waiting for?

0103: What a season we have in store, and what a potentially fascinating weekend's racing to kick it off. So many questions are already being asked - What impact will the rule changes have? Will the likes of Brawn GP actually outshine their more celebrated rivals? Will Lewis Hamilton's bid to retain his drivers' championship falter on the basis that his McLaren couldn't out-race a milk float? We might just get answers to those - and many more - this weekend. Are you ready?

0100: Formula 1. It's only on the BBC, isn't it? Love it.

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