The Australian Grand Prix was little more than a 58-lap victory parade for Michael Schumacher and Ferrari as the most successful driver in Formula One history got his bid for a seventh world title underway in commanding fashion.

Schumacher led his Brazilian teammate Rubens Barrichello from start to finish for the 71st victory of his career to send fearful minds casting back to the Ferrari procession in 2002.

It was the 16th time Schumacher and Barrichello have secured an all-Ferrari one-two since they came together in 2000 and was just the dominant display the pair had threatened all week.

Each repeatedly bettered the Albert Park lap records during free practice and qualifying and Schumacher's fastest lap yesterday smashed the race record by over three and a half seconds.

Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone described Ferrari's practice form as ''a disaster'' for the sport and their display made a mockery of claims that Schumacher will face more competition this year than in any other.

Spain's Fernando Alonso finished third, some 34.6 seconds behind Schumacher and 21 behind Barrichello. Ralf Schumacher was fourth in his Williams, over a minute back.

''It was a grandiose performance from Ferrari, crowned with an equally grandiose result,'' said Ferrari team principal Jean Todt.

''This one-two is the result of the ultimate effort in our own work, the cohesion, stability and determination of our team.

''Finally, the drivers - both of them drove a fantastic race and there is not much else to add. As we have said already over the winter, we don't like to say much, preferring our actions to speak for themselves.''

Two years ago Schumacher romped to the title with six of the 17 races remaining and Ferrari's dominance prompted a raft of rule changes in an attempt to make the sport competitive again.

Although Schumacher won his fourth title on the bounce, Ferrari had been reined in as eight different drivers won races in an exciting 2003 season.

Further adjustments were made to the regulations this year but the prancing horse again proved to be one step ahead.

''I knew that we would be very, very competitive. I knew we would be very strong - but that strong I didn't anticipate,'' admitted Schumacher, who eased off in the closing stages with Barrichello suffering brake problems.

Until that point the Ferrari pair, although some distance clear of the field, had been engaged in an intriguing battle.

Barrichello knew he could not keep pace with Schumacher once his brakes began to play up, but he his lead over Alonso meant second place was assured as long as the car lasted.

''We were doing some fantastic times but then I had some problems with my break pads going down, down, down. Michael opened up a bit of a gap and I just couldn't compete,'' he said.

Alonso made a blistering start, flying down the outside to leap from fifth to third on the outside of Juan Pablo Montoya, but that was the first and last real opportunity he had to pull a move.

''For the first lap it was impossible to get past Rubens and I had no-one in the mirror. I just did 58 laps like that,'' Alonso said.

''I slowed a little bit because I had a 30-second gap with Rubens and a 30-second gap behind. I slowed because there was no point in risking third place.

''To be on podium in front of Williams and McLaren is a bit of a surprise for us.''

Montoya had gone wide on the first corner and dropped back to seventh but he hit back to reel in Renault's Jarno Trulli and then Jenson Button in the BAR.

Despite closing the gap on Ralf Schumacher, the Colombian had to settle for fifth, one spot behind his team-mate.

Button, racing in the BAR test car after damaging the chassis of his own in the last free practice session, started from fourth on the grid and enjoyed what team principal David Richards described as a ''solid'' day to claim three points, his first at Albert Park.

''It's good to have three points under my belt already,'' said the 24-year-old. ''I think we need a little bit more in the way of race pace but it's a solid start to the season.''

Last year's winner David Coulthard could not repeat his performance of storming to victory from the sixth row and finished eighth.

With his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen retiring after nine laps with an engine problem, it proved a frustrating race for McLaren.

''It has really been an unsatisfying weekend for us and the one point we achieved is a very small consolation,'' Coulthard said.