Sebastian Vettel opens the 2018 F1 season with a victory

Sebastian Vettel wins the Australian Grand Prix, the opening round of the 2018 Formula One World Championship. It’s his third win at Melbourne’s Albert Park, 48th win in a career and 100th race which he finished on a podium.

The driver of the #5 Ferrari SF71H defeated reigning champion Lewis Hamilton by more than five seconds in the 58-lap race at 5,303 meters long Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. Kimi Raikkonen makes it a double podium for Scuderia Ferrari by finishing third.

Lewis Hamilton lost a race through the pits

There was no direct fight between Vettel and Hamilton as German overtook Hamilton through the pits. Vettel stayed longer on the track and made a tire change during a Virtual Safety Car, exiting back on the track ahead of Hamilton. Prior to that, Hamilton was in the lead for the first twenty-five laps.

A duo of Haas F1 Team’s drivers experienced the biggest disappointment of the race, retiring in the middle of the race due to suspension problems caused by malfunctions and mistakes of their pit crew. Kevin Magnussen stopped on Lap 24 while fighting for P4. Romain Grosjean inherited P4 but stopped just a lap later.

In the end, Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) finished fourth, ahead of Fernando Alonso (McLaren). Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Nico Hulkenberg (Renault), Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), Stoffel Vandoorne (McLaren) and Carlos Sainz Jr (Renault) completed top 10.