Mclaren and Mercedes look ahead to Australian race

McLaren team mates Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton have taken some time out from their hectic schedules to enjoy some fun in the sun in Australia. After a promising sixth place finish in the opening round in Bahrain seven-time former champion Michael Schumacher is looking forwards to a track that he holds the lap record for - set in a Ferrari in 2004 - and a track that traditionally comes complete with large crowds and vocal support.

Reigning Formula One World Champion Jenson Button swapped the grace of his 2010 McLaren MP4-23 for the sheer brute power of a V8 Supercar in Melbourne on Tuesday.

The Australian Grand Prix will get underway on Friday.

McLaren Formula One driver Jenson Button of Britain signs  autographs as he arrives at the Albert Park Circuit in preparation  for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne,Thursday,  March 25, 2010. The seasons second race will be held here on Sunday  March 28.(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)

Jenson Button of Mclaren F1 Team says, "I am really looking forward to the race and, you know, Melbourne has treated me well in the past and I have had a couple of pole positions and won last season here in the first race of the year - and it was a pretty emotional race. So, I always love coming back to Melbourne for the racing but also because I love the city, I think it is a fun city and we are racing here within a park - Albert Park - so it is a beautiful place to come racing and I think the Australian fans are big supporters of motorsport, especially the V8 Supercars but also the F1 so, yeah it's a good atmosphere."