MELBOURNE: Sebastian Vettel out-manoeuvred Lewis Hamilton and the world champion Mercedes team with a stunning victory in the season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday.
Vettel won by almost 10 seconds from Hamilton and Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas in a commanding victory of tactics and speed around the Albert Street circuit. It was Ferrari’s first win in Melbourne since Kimi Raikkonen’s victory in 2007 and Vettel’s second in Australia after winning the 2011 race with Red Bull.
It was a major fillip for the new season after Ferrari’s superior pre-season test times as they chase their first world constructors’ title since 2008. It was the German four-time world champion’s fourth win for Ferrari and his first since Singapore in 2015 and his 43rd career win.