Snapping Happy In The Rain

As I write this at 5pm Australian time today, Melbourne had only experienced weather resembling one of its famous 'four seasons in a day'. And the weather I refer to could have been mistaken for a rain-sodden winter or autumn day or, perhaps it was just some April showers arriving a few weeks ahead of time. Either way, it was characteristically erratic Melbourne weather and most of us here at Albert Park were half-expecting the sun to burn through the rolling clouds that lay above before the day was out. With darkness beginning to set in, however, that didn't look likely and only three days ahead of the first GP of the 2011 Formula 1 season, all of us in Melbourne had to brave the elements and carry on as the heavens began to open.

That included all our drivers for the weekend – Nick, Vitaly and Bruno. At lunchtime today, the drivers were needed for the official pre-season FIA Photograph session. The session, which was open to all photographers from the world over saw exactly that – (not so) happy snappers from all corners of the world, experiencing a severe Melbourne drenching! Having spent a great deal of time at the Team HQ in Enstone, however, all the drivers were accustomed to the rain and each put on a brave face in front of the flashing bulbs. Vitaly even enjoyed holding an umbrella aloft as the photographers snapped away: a shot which will undoubtedly be used by one or more of the sport's publications in the coming days!

With their race helmets by their sides, all three of the team appeared in high spirits and raring to go as the countdown clock to the season-opener draws closer and closer.