LewisHamilton won the Australian Grand Prix, as he got his world title defenceoff to the perfect start in Albert Park on Sunday.
Hamilton quicklymanaged to build a lead and control his gap with the other Mercedes car of NicoRosberg, as the team left the rest of the field behind.
Ferrarihave clearly improved form since last season, as their new driver SebastienVettel, who left Red Bull to join them over winter, grabbed third place on thepodium - Vettel edged Williams’ Felipe Massa, who finished fourth.
The secondFerrari’s driver, Kimi Raikkonen, who left last year and was now back again, wasthe only leading driver to make two pit-stops.
There was a problem with hiswheel, and, as the wheel was not properly fitted, he was forced to pull offfour corners after re-joining. The Finnhad to retire, which prompted Sauber’s Felipe Nasr to an impressivefifth-placed debut, to give the struggling Swiss team their first points for ayear.
JensonButton achieved his aim of finishing the race, in what is his favourite circuit,but did not manage any points in the unreliable McLaren-Honda, which used newhybrid turbo- engine for the first time on Sunday. Button finished eleventh and last.
The 2015season commenced in dramatic style; only fifteen cars were on the starting gridand eleven cars finished. William’s seconddriver Valterri Bottas could not start the race due to injury to his back, afterhe hurt himself in qualifying.
Red Bull,who’s engine manufacturer Renault had an awful start to the season, also lost acar at the start, with Daniil Kvyat failing to pit after gear-box trouble.
The secondMcClaren-Honda’s driver, Kevin Magnussen, was also affected by mechanicalproblems on his car, as it began to smoke after Turn 5 and 6.
Lotus’Pastor Maldonado lost a car after the first few hundred metres after he hadcoming together with Felipe Nasr’s Sauber, as he spun into the barriers,bringing out the safety car.
Itwas evident on Sunday that there was such a big difference between Mercedes andthe rest, that it looked very much like the Hamilton – Rosberg duo were in a race of their own, fighting among themselves for the title, as they didlast season. But it would be good for asport global reach that other big brands, such as Ferrari and McLaren are alsowinning.
