Despite being thrown out of the 2007 championship, McLaren have not been relegated to the end of the pitlane this year. Although this story was leaked about a month ago, it became official earlier as the teams started to set up their garages at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. Instead, the Woking team reside between Williams and Red Bull Racing in the fifth slot, something that doesn’t normal happen to the last-placed team in Formula One.

It is thought that discussions between the team and F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone led to the relaxation in this rule, and according to some sources the decision came down to the placement of McLaren’s huge motorhome mansion. Personally, I don’t see why the teams need such large hospitality areas, and the if the punishment handed down is to go to the back, then all the trappings of going to the back come into play. In other words, McLaren should have to build a smaller motorhome.

Either way, if you’re looking for McLaren next weekend, they’ll be somewhere in the middle, eyeing up Nico Rosberg on one side and Adrian Newey on the other.