Overtaking still remains difficult

The jury is out as to whether overtaking will be in more abundant supply in 2009. Sweeping new regulations, affecting the bodywork, tyres and the introduction of power-boost Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems, are designed to make it easier for following cars to pass their rivals.

"I was behind some cars yesterday and I flew by them, something I have never experienced before in my F1 career," Nico Rosberg told the Age newspaper on Saturday.

"If it happens at Albert Park, it'll certainly happen at other tracks," the German said in Melbourne.

Front row sitter Rubens Barrichello believes Australia could be a fascinating race of overtaking, given that some cars are fitted with KERS, but most are not.

"Plus, the wings help. They don't fix the problem but (also) the moveable wings help, so that could help overtaking too," the Brawn Mercedes driver said.

Sebastian Vettel points out that, even with the new measures, formula one is not going to resemble MotoGP or NASCAR in terms of those series' abundance of overtaking moves.

"I think it still remains difficult," the German said. "It's already difficult to pass another car in Formula 3 because of the downforce. Well, in formula one I think the cars have a bit more downforce than that.”

"In testing, it wasn't the case that you follow another car and if you're faster you just pass. You still feel that you lose grip all around.”

"How tough (will overtaking be)? That needs to be answered in the next races," Vettel added.