2012 F1 season: it's on! We announced it a few weeks ago, Renault powers 4 teams in F1 this season, amounting to one third of the grid. The RS27 engine (2012 version), which was adapted to new regulations, was introduced in Melbourne this weekend, powering our partnering teams, Red Bull Racing, Lotus F1 Team, Caterham F1 Team et Williams F1 Team and their pilots.

The beginning of the season in Melbourne last weekend was thus a real laboratory to test out this new engine, which seems to be standing by its promise since it powered Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) to the second position at the season-opening Australian GP. The reigning world champion finished 2.1secs behind winner Jenson Button and two seconds ahead of third-placed Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull Racing team-mate Mark Webber finished in fourth position, his highest finish in his home Grand Prix, to give the Red Bull-Renault package a total of 30 points.

Promising start for new partner this year, Williams F1 Team, led by Bruno Senna and Pastor Maldonado. Caterham F1 Team showed a decent race pace, with Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov running in the midfield.

In total, Renault engines scored 36 points from the Australian Grand Prix, thanks to Team Red Bull Racing's experience and Lotus F1 Team's Kimi Raikkonen, who raced from 17th on the grid to seventh at the flag fall, giving his team a valuable six points.

Australian Grand Prix: the photo review

The teams:

Sebastian Vettel getting back to the paddock :

Jenson Button first, Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing) second:

Also seen at this Grand Prix, a Mégane R.S. 250 raceoff, organized by Renault Sport, decked out in the livery of Red Bull Racing :

Last but not least, the flying man! Nick Macomber, also known as Renault Jetpack Man, who lost to the Mégane R.S. in a raceoff :

Calendar for the season 

	POS.	DATE	F1 GRAND PRIX	LAPS	DISTANCE
	1	03/27/2011	Australia	58	307,574
	2	04/10/2011	Malaysia	56	310,408
	3	04/17/2011	China	56	305,256
	4	05/08/2011	Turkey	58	309.604
	5	05/22/2011	Spain	66	307,230
	6	05/29/2011	Monaco	78	260,520
	7	06/12/2011	Canada	70	305,270
	8	06/26/2011	Europe (Valencia)	57	308,883
	9	07/10/2011	Great-Britain	60	308,460
	10	07/24/2011	Germany	60	308.880
	11	07/31/2011	Hungary	70	306,670
	12	08/28/2011	Belgium	44	308,176
	13	09/11/2011	Italy	53	307,209
	14	09/25/2011	Singapore	61	309,453
	15	10/09/2011	Japan	53	307,771
	16	10/16/2011	South Korea	55	309,155
	17	10/30/2011	India	n/a	n/a
	18	11/13/2011	Abu Dhabi	55	305,470
	19	11/27/2011	Brazil	71	305,939

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