Lewis Hamilton got off to a perfect start to the 2015 Formula One season as he dominated the Australian Grand Prix to get his world title defense started on a winning note on Sunday.
Hamilton, who started on pole after topping the testing charts, drove like a champion, controlling the gap to his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg throughout as the team left the rest of the field behind.
Ferrari ‘s improved form was confirmed as new signing Sebastian Vettel took third, beating Williams’ Felipe Massa, while Jenson Button achieved his aim of finishing in the slow and unreliable McLaren-Honda but was 11th and last.
The field lost three cars even before the start of the Grand Prix, in front of a capacity crowd in Albert Park in Melbourne, the BBC reported.
Williams’ Valtteri Bottas was ordered not to race by the official doctor after suffering an injured disc in his back in qualifying and spending the night in hospital, while McLaren-Honda’s poor reliability struck Kevin Magnussen as he headed around to take his place on the grid, the Dane stopping in a cloud of blue smoke between Turns Five and Six.
Red Bull also lost a car before the start, Daniil Kvyat stopping shortly afterwards, just failing to make it around to the pits after hitting gearbox trouble.
Just 15 cars took the start, due to the absence of the Manor Marussia team, who did not run at all throughout the weekend. And another car was lost within a few hundred metres, as Lotus’ Pastor Maldonado was tagged by Felipe Nasr’s Sauber at the first corner and spun into the barriers, bringing out the safety car.
Movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger presented the trophies and did the podium interviews, with Hamilton telling him that his team did an amazing job and it was an incredible feeling to win and also to be there with him, adding that he thought the ‘Rocky’ star was taller.
Meanwhile, Rosberg said that he was trying every lap to his maximum and would do all year, adding that he would Hamilton him a big run for his money and hopefully beat the Briton. (ANI)