Ferrari ace takes opening race
MOTORSPORT: Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel has thrown down the gauntlet to defending Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton by claiming the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne yesterday.
Vettel upset the form guide by claiming his third victory at Albert Park, finishing five seconds ahead of fellow four-time world champ Hamilton with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen third.
Australia’s Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull equalled his best Albert Park result with fourth after battling back from eighth following a grid penalty.
It looked like a case of different season, same result when Mercedes’ dominant champion Hamilton set a lap record to claim his seventh pole in Melbourne in qualifying.
But Vettel indicated Hamilton wouldn’t have it all his own way in 2018 with an inspiring victory that has set the stage for a titanic battle never before seen in Formula One.
This year marks the first time in F1 history two four-time world champions go head-tohead in a season.
The race is now on to see who will equal Argentine great Juan Manuel Fangio’s five world titles. Only Michael Schumacher (seven) has won more.
It seemed like the season opener was Hamilton’s to lose but no one told Vettel.
The German inherited the race lead after Hamilton and Raikkonen followed each other into the pits and from there, he didn’t surrender it.
It was a disastrous day for the Haas team with both drivers featuring in the top five before retiring within a lap of each other after a pit stop.
Kevin Magnussen was out by lap 24 while teammate Romain Grosjean parked trackside on turn two a lap later, prompting a yellow flag.
Overall, five of the 20-strong field failed to finish.