Intro:

On the eve of the opening race weekend of the 2012 Formula One season, McLaren driver Jenson Button and Ferrari duo Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa squeezed in some final promotional duties in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday.

Button, who finished runner-up last year, spoke of his love of the Albert Park street circuit, where the first Free Practice session of the new term takes place on Friday (March 16th) - and commented on the highly-competitive field set to contest the 2012 championship.

There was also the suggestion that the Ferrari team are already indulging in mind games before a wheel has turned in anger - as both Alonso and Massa played down their expectations for the new car after a "difficult" and "problematic" winter testing programme.

Script:

The 2012 Formula One World Championship roars into life in Melbourne on Friday and McLaren driver Jenson Button's more than ready.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Jenson Button, McLaren F1 Driver:

"I am raring to go. I have spent the last couple of days around the city on my bike, which has been interesting. But it is really good. We get so excited about the start of the season and it is because it is the first race but also because it is in Melbourne and we love racing around Albert Park and it is such a good atmosphere for our first Grand Prix. So, we turn up here with a car that is competitive, we don't know how competitive it is yet but we have had a good winter. We come into the first race excited about the possibilities and the challenges so, I think there are going to be a lot of quick cars out there but I think it makes it more fun for the fans."

The 20-race season's expected to be one of the most competitive of recent times.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Jenson Button, McLaren F1 Driver:

"Yes we will see a competitive year but it is very difficult to predict at this point but...it is really strange because a lot of teams have been very quick in winter testing...teams that you wouldn't normally expect to be competitive so I think it is going to be a lottery here this weekend, which is good. I think it makes it exciting and hopefully we will have a full house cheering us on."

Across the city Ferrari duo Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa were also on hand.

Alonso hoping for a better run after only one victory last season.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Fernando Alonso, Ferrari F1 Driver:

"Obviously it is always difficult to know in testing what the others are doing. For us it was not easy winter and we have been having some problems with the car to understand the quite complex car that we have this year. Some novel ideas in use in the new car. I think we are not at the point that we wanted to arrive at the first race but it doesn't mean that we are not quick enough. We target very optimistic target before the start of the season and maybe we are not at that point but hopefully we can be competitive and fight for the top places."

Masa prepared for some stiff opposition.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Felipe Massa, Ferrari F1 Team:

"The expectation is always there to do a good job but we don't know where we are. We have some ideas and the ideas we had were not really fantastic for the winter test but now is when we are going see all the cars with the same tyres, with the same fuel and then we will have the clear answer of how we are compared to the others. I hope we have a competitive car to start the season."

The Australian Grand Prix gets underway in Melbourne on Friday.