Red Bull's Australian driver Mark Webber is mobbed by fans as he arrives at Melbourne's Albert Park for his home Grand Prix

The Melbourne skyline provides an attractive backdrop to the first Grand Prix action of the eagerly-anticipated 2009 season

The Red Bull pit lane team endure a frustrating first session as their two cars managed just 11 laps between them

After difficulties in the morning session Mark Webber turns on the style by clocking the fourth fastest time in the afternoon

It was all a bit of a blur for world champion Lewis Hamilton as his McLaren lived down to his expectations - he ended up 16 and 18th

Ferrari's Felipe Massa recovers from an early spin to finish seventh fastest but the Brazilian dropped to tenth in the second session

Nelson Piquet Jr gets himself into a spot of trouble and it doesn't get much better for the Brazilian he was 18th and then 19th fastest

Veteran Brawn driver Rubens Barrichello spends some time away the track but puts in a solid display to finish 4th and 2nd

German's driver Nico Rosberg clocks the fastest lap of both the first and second sessions on an impressive day for Williams

Renault's Fernando Alonso suggests the fading light at Albert Park could be an issue with the Grand Prix due to start at 1700 local time