Practice 3 Report - A BMW promotional event

Nick Heidfeld and Jacques Villeneuve ended the third practice session of the Australian Grand Prix with an unexpected 1-2 for BMW. The session began in wet conditions and gradually dried but the temperatures were low and the major teams did not push too hard in case they damaged their cars, not a good idea in these days of two-race engines and penalties for engine changes.

Third fastest in the session was the Scuderia Toro Rosso of Tonio Liuzzi ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella, Ralf Schumacher, Felipe Massa, Michael Schumacher, Jarno Trulli and Scott Speed.

A variety of drivers did have off track moments but none of the incidents led to any serious damage but with the weather in Melbourne very changeable the prospects for qualifying are hard to discern.