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Disappointment for Sauber

Both Sauber cars crashed out on the first lap Keystone

Swiss Formula One team Sauber have made a disappointing start to the new season, with Felipe Massa and Nick Heidfeld both failing to finish the Australian Grand Prix.

Accidents in the opening lap, which wiped out half of the 22 cars in the field, saw the two Sauber drivers crash out of the race in Melbourne.

“I didn’t intend my first Grand Prix to end this way,” said new Sauber driver Felipe Massa. “I made a good start and then saw the big crash in front. I slowed down and went to the inside, and I got through the first corner without hitting anyone or anything, but then Fisichella caught me from behind and that was it. My race was over.”

The race was won by four times world champion Michael Schumacher, with Juan Pablo Montoya following the Ferrari home in his Williams-BMW.

Former Sauber driver Kimi Raïkkönen grabbed his first ever Formula One podium finish, coming in third for McLaren – six seconds behind Montoya.

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