2008 Australian Grand Prix 2008 Australian Grand Prix The 2008 Australian Grand Prix (formally the LXXIII ING Australian Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 16 March 2008 at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit, Melbourne, Australia. It was the first race of the 2008 Formula One season. The 58 lap race was won by Lewis Hamilton for the McLaren team after starting from pole position. Nick Heidfeld finished second in a BMW Sauber car, with Nico Rosberg third in a Williams, his first ever F1 podium. This was the last race until the 2010 Korean Grand Prix that neither Red Bull
Toyota Racing (Formula One team) to Lewis Hamilton being disqualified. ‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed. † Driver did not finish the Grand Prix, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.<br> ‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed. Toyota Racing (Formula One team) Panasonic Toyota Racing was a Formula One team owned by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota Motor Corporation and based in Cologne, Germany. Toyota announced their plans to participate in Formula One in 1999, and after extensive testing with their initial car, dubbed the TF101,