Prancing back
2014, there is a non-Mercedes driver at the top of the championship standings.
Vettel’s 2007 championshipwinning teammate Kimi Raikkonen finished fourth, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen one behind.
On the front row next to polesitter Hamilton, Vettel got off to a sluggish start and his British rival broke clear to avoid Albert Park’s usual messy log-jam at turn one.
But Hamilton was soon complaining on the team radio about his car’s grip and was first to pit on lap 18 to change tyres.
It proved a turning point as he rejoined behind Verstappen and was unable to pass the feisty Dutch teenager.
As Hamilton vented on the team radio, Vettel forged ahead.
The German pitted at lap 23 and exited the pit-lane just in front of Verstappen, who was still gamely holding off Hamilton while riding his tyres thin.
Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff was enraged. Television pictures showed him pounding his fist into a desk in the team garage.
Vettel showed the reigning constructors’ champions a clean set of heels and quickly established a six-second gap, which only got wider as the race progressed.
After crossing the finish line, Vettel howled in ecstasy and thousands of red-clad Ferrari fans flooded onto the lakeside circuit to share in the German’s triumph.
Fans of home racer Daniel Ricciardo were left disappointed, however, after the Australian’s race ended midway through at turn three, his Red Bull stopping with smoke billowing out.
He had earlier started from pitlane two laps behind, after suffering a sensor problem with his gearbox that prevented him from taking his place at the grid.
It was a better day for Felipe Massa, who came sixth in his “comeback” race following his short-lived retirement from Williams last year.
Force India also enjoyed a strong race, with Sergio Perez coming seventh and French newcomer Esteban Ocon also in the points after running 10th.
Reliability problems were rife with seven cars failing to finish, including McLaren’s twice champion Fernando Alonso. – AFP