Intro:

Two-time and reigning Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel continued to acclimatise to the Australian lifestyle ahead of the opening round in Melbourne, with a trip to St Kilda beach on Wednesday.

The Red Bull driver - joined by Australian team-mate Mark Webber - enjoyed a brief game of beach cricket before the usual round of press interviews took over, with the assembled media eager to find out what the 24 year-old German expects from the new season - which begins with the first free practice session of the new term on Friday.

Vettel has been the dominant force in the Red Bull machine over the last two seasons and is once again expected to set the early pace over the 20-race season - but with McLaren and Ferrari all eager to reassert their position in the sport many are predicting one of the most competitive racing season in recent years is about to get underway.

Script:

A taste of the good life down under.

It was all sun, beach and cricket for reigning Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel on Wednesday as he joined Red Bull teammate Mark Webber for some light relief ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.

All eyes will once again be on the German 24 year-old as he attempts to capture a third consecutive world title.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull F1 Driver: "

"I think this year looks fairly close. It is hard to pinpoint and hard to say 'okay, this team looks the strongest at this stage'. I think we have got a good car, I hope for more to come and first of all we need to find out exactly where we are, as I said, and that is exactly the same for everybody else. Testing has been a bit up and down for everyone, especially if you look at the time sheets. It is a bit hard to predict."

Vettel had an extraordinary 2011.

However, it's widely assumed that this season will be one of the most competitive F1 title races in recent years, with fierce challenge from Ferrari and McLaren.

However Vettel says he's well rested and ready for the challenge of the new season.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull F1 Driver:

"If you rest or stop moving forward then you start to go backwards so I think it is not just in Formula One it is everywhere else the same thing., So the most important thing in the winter break to get away from Formula One and to recharge the batteries and be ready for the next season, for this season. The season is generally very long and there is a lot of races so, it would be wrong to target a peak just here and then be not so good everywhere else. That is the difficulty for us, we need to maintain that peak for throughout the season."

The opening round gets underway in Melbourne on March 16th.