Hooray! I've been waiting with baited breath for this thread to open up and now I get to be first to post the Pole n 10 picks!
O.K. my picks for Pole n 10 for Melbourne will be as follows:
1.

Seb. Vettel: RedBull/Renault Seb would have won save his plugs last week (and if you believe that I’d like to talk to you about some real estate I have for you...

)
2.

Fernando Alonso

: Ferrari the Spaniard was fastest lap in the desert and last year he got sixth place in that terrible Renault! He won in Australia in ’06 when Renault was supplying F1 racers with actual race cars and he could get his second win (both for Australia and 2010) with a little help. (Kobayashi crashi into Vettel?

)
3.

Felip Massa: Ferrari Little Phil is fast, no question and he could out-qualify his team-mate, but I don’t see it in the cards --or in the race either
4. Lewis Hamilton: McLaren Fourth fastest in Bore-rain & would have been on the podium last year but for some prevarication...remember? He won here in the ‘wonder year’ of ’08 & if the circuit surface is rough, he should shine; the McLaren is always a good kerb climber and the Red Bulls and Ferraris are usually more delicate machines, so Lewis could podium here!
5. Mark Webber: RBR/Renault Webbo’s was the 3rd fastest lap in the desert last week and this is his best chance at home since he got the Williams in 3rd slot on the grid and took it home to fifth five years ago, so let’s say he holds to that form...
6. Jenson Button: McLaren Only Ninth fastest in Bore-rain; last year’s winner... but not this year!
7. Michael Schumacher: Mercedes Can’t discount the winningest ever driver; he won down under six years ago (when Vettel was probably too young for a driver’s license!
8. Nico Rosberg: Mercedes a good driver in a good car; he even made the final step on the podium in Australia in '08, but not this year I’m afraid; too much competition. But he could pip Michael!
9. Adrian Sutil: Force India Merc Second fastest last race! with luck he could even be sixth or seventh. definitely a driver to watch this year!

10. Rubens Barichello: Williams/Cosworth Rubens won’t give up, will he? But he’s a long way from last year’s second step on the podium. Probably as close as he’ll ever get.

Pole: I think Fernando may pip Seb. V., but I’m still going to give the Pole pick to the German flyer just the same!
With four teams owning the first eight places, it looks like a long, long season for the rest of the field!
Poor Kubica, poor Buemi;

:alright:
Now if I could just get me a Merc engine deal AND buy last year’s Toyota chassis from the mysterious Mr. Stephan, AND get some one with some racing nous to run my team,

I’d buy Buemi and Kubica's contracts and enter my black cars with red trim and flashy thumbs up logo as the ‘Up Yours, Bernie! Racing Team’.
And by God, we’d be worrying Michael before the year was out!
Jim Watt

& have a great race! I love Melbourne; it's a great road circuit!!
My Racing Gods: Fangio, Vukovich; Senna & Mears --all racers all the time; graceful winners & generous in defeat, but never giving up!!