Sauber may have the least experienced line-up on the 2011 grid but that didn't stop the team from bring home a double points-finish in Australia.
Sergio Perez, in his debut race, needed just one stop to change his Pirelli tyres while many around him were forced into three-stoppers.
It was an unexpected performance, as the Sauber rookie was the only driver to stop just once. However, it earned him a seventh-placed finish and a much-welcome six World Championship points.
"I will never forget this race, that is certain," said the Mexican driver.
"After we changed from the hard to the soft tyres, I thought at first I had to push. But then I realised I could manage the tyres quite well and we decided to go to the end with them.
"I am very proud of my team, the strategy worked and it was a nice surprise the tyres lasted so long. I want to thank everybody, especially in Mexico, who helped me to get into Formula One."
But he wasn't the only Sauber driver in the points as Kamui Kobayashi brought his car home in eighth place.
"I'm very happy we have managed to score points with both cars. I had a good start and got by Alonso, who overtook me later.
"With the first set of soft tyres I was struggling to warm them up. With the second set of the soft ones I think the pace was good, and also the third stint on the harder tyres was okay.
"I had a big moment when Rubens Barrichello and Nico Rosberg crashed in front of me, but no more excitement after that.
"It is a good start and makes me feel happy looking forward to the season."
