MELBOURNE, March 9: McLaren’s David Coulthard won against the odds in Australia on Sunday as Formula One’s new era started with world champions Ferrari pushed off the podium for the first time since 1999.

Ferrari’s five times world champion Michael Schumacher finished fourth in a damaged car, ending his record run of 19 successive podiums, and the early exit of Rubens Barrichello put paid to a 54th rostrum in a row for the team.

Results:

1. David Coulthard (Britain) McLaren 1 hour 34 minutes 42.124 seconds (average speed 194.868 kph); 2. Juan Pablo Montoya (Colombia) Williams 1:34:50.799; 3. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) McLaren 1:34:51.316; 4. Michael Schumacher (Germany) Ferrari 1:34:51.606; 5. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Renault 1:35:20.925; 6. Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Germany) Sauber 1:35:26.052; 7. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1:35:27.198; 8. Ralf Schumacher (Germany) Williams 1:35:27.869; 9. Jacques Villeneuve (Canada) BAR 1:35:47.660; 10. Jenson Button (Britain) BAR 1:35:48.098; 11. Jos Verstappen (Netherlands) Minardi 1 lap behind; 12. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Jordan did not finish 13. Antonio Pizzonia (Brazil) Jaguar did not finish.—Reuters