The pilot Ferrari Sebastian Vettel has opened the new season with a tactical victory over Vice-world champion Lewis Hamilton.
At the start of the race in the leading group has not been anything interesting – Hamilton, Vettel, Bottas and Raikkonen retained their qualifying positions. The two leaders immediately pulled away from his pursuers – Hamilton could not come off from Vettel, and only before the first and only wave of pit stops the advantage of the Mercedes is more than one second.
In the Ferrari decided to defer the stop of their leader, that played a key role in the struggle for leadership. Out of the pits Vettel was back in front of Hamilton, who was stuck behind Verstappen tenacious and quickly lost contact with the pilot of the “Scuderia”.
His chance Vettel has used 100% – four-time world champion pulled away from Hamilton for 6-7 seconds without any problems I kept the gained handicap. The German won his second victory in Melbourne and the 43rd in his career.
Bottas in his debut race in the Mercedes confidently finished on the podium, leaving behind Raikkonen, Verstappen and Weight. In the end zone for the first race of the season completed, Perez, Sainz Jr. and Windows. All qualified riders from 13 20.
Grand Prix of Australia. Race results:
1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +9.975
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) +11.250
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) +22.393
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +28.827
6. Felipe Massa (“Williams”) 83.386
7. Sergio Perez (“Force India”) – 1 circle
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Toro Rosso) +1 lap
9. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) +1 lap
10. Esteban Windows (“Force India”) – 1 circle
11. Nico Hulkenberg (Renault) +1 lap
12. Antonio Giovinazzi (“Zauber”) +2 laps
13. Stoffel Vandorn (“McLaren”) + 2 laps
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