Raikkonen, the 2007 World Champion, is ready for a new season after a dismal end to last year. The Finn closed out the 2008 season with several disappointing finishes and some wondered whether he had lost his competitive edge.

While Ferrari and McLaren were at the top of the class last year, the impressive tests from newcomer Brawn GP earlier this month at Barcelona and Jerez Spain has raised eyebrows among other teams. Team Principal Ross Brawn acquired the former Honda team and debuted the Brawn BGP 001 car at Barcelona, with drivers Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button turning in the fastest times during the four-day session there.

"Our ambition has always been to be on the grid for the first race of the season in Melbourne and our planning was specifically tailored towards the achievement of this goal," Brawn said. "I am extremely proud that we have achieved our ambition and the Australian Grand Prix will mark the start of an exciting new journey for our team."

Barrichello and Button are likely dark horses in F1 this year, but with Mercedes-Benz engine powering their cars, who knows how well the two Brawn GP drivers will do, starting with the Australian GP.