Lost & Found #26: Pit Stop Practice for the McLaren team, Melbourne 2003

McLaren crew practicing a pit stop at the first race of the year, Melbourne 2003

Today's Lost & Found is celebrating the start of this year's Formula One season, which begins this weekend at the Albert Park in Melbourne. I've been to a few races there over the years - and a couple in Montreal, too - but in 2003 I managed to find myself in the pit lane on the Wednesday afternoon before the event officially started, sandwiched between the Williams and McLaren pits just as the team decided to get a few trial pit stops under their belts.

McLaren crew practicing a pit stop at the first race of the year, Melbourne 2003

As the Australian Grand Prix kicks off the calendar for the year, it's no doubt the time when a few winter cobwebs get cleared out, and a few new crew members get their first time with a wheel gun in hand - and, of course, the car is completely new from the previous year as well. So there's much to learn!

Mark Webber at the 2003 Australian Grand Prix.

Unfortunately, that wasn't actually David Coulthard at the wheel, it was someone in his helmet; but I did see Jenson Button and Mark Webber wandering around the pit lane that day, too. Jenson's at McLaren again this year, hopefully he has a bit more luck this time around!

Jenson Button at the 2003 Australian Grand Prix.