Analysis: Teams Face Moment of Truth in Melbourne

The bluffing is over and the time has come for Michael Schumacher and his Formula One rivals to start their engines and show the world the teams that are hot and those that are not.

The suspense ends this weekend at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix when Saturday's first official qualifying session of the year will blow away any winter posturing. Testing times, suggesting that certain teams are faster than others, will either be backed up or shown up.

Newcomers Toyota, making their Grand Prix debut in Melbourne and playing down expectations, will find out whether they are on the pace. Jaguar, with aerodynamic problems in testing, could have their worst fears confirmed or end up smiling.

Expect a sense of deja vu at the front end all the same, with Ferrari's Schumacher again in last year's record-breaking F2001 - still with the champion's number one on it - and chasing a third successive win in Australia.

"It (the 2001 car) has been competitive in testing so there is no reason to take any silly and unnecessary risks," commented Schumacher recently on the decision to keep the new F2002 back at the Maranello factory. "The most important thing in the first race is to finish, because points from the beginning of the season can be decisive when it comes to the end."

Title Challenge

McLaren and Williams, who will mount a serious title challenge this season with race winners Ralf Schumacher and Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya, will also be going for pole. Finland's Kimi Raikkonen, replacing compatriot Mika Hakkinen alongside Briton David Coulthard, could even emulate the late Bruce McLaren in obtaining his first win while still only 22-years-old.

A year ago, Raikkonen made his debut at Melbourne and scored a point in his first outing - the 50th driver to do so. McLaren have switched tyre supplier from Bridgestone, Ferrari's brand, to join Williams at Michelin.

The Benetton name has been replaced by Renault, who have looked impressive in testing, while Prost's financial problems have sent that team to the wall. German Heinz-Harald Frentzen has joined Arrows, using for the first time Jaguar's Cosworth engine, after driving for Prost last season following his firing from Jordan.

"This is our first chance to see how competitive we're going to be but the real test for everyone in Melbourne is reliability so I think if we can finish the race we will all be happy," he said.

The Albert Park circuit has been modified to ensure greater safety after last year's race was marred by the death of marshal Graham Beveridge. The height of safety fences has been increased and gaps in them reduced.

New Boys

There are four new boys eager to show that they deserve their slot on the grid - Brazilian Felipe Massa at Sauber, Scotland's Allan McNish at Toyota, Japan's Takuma Sato at Jordan and Mark Webber at Minardi.

The main man for local fans is Webber, the first Australian Formula One driver since 1994 and the first at an Australian-owned team since triple champion Jack Brabham in 1970.

"There's no question that there's going to be a lot of adrenaline from the old hometown syndrome," said Webber. "I think it's any driver's dream, I suppose, to compete in front of their home nation, and to do it in your first Grand Prix is a special twist of the story."