His opening victory in Formula 1 spectacle of Melbourne enjoyed world title challenger Nico Rosberg to the fullest -. To a challenge to its title counterparty Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel but he was not carried away.
“That was a perfect race and a super start to the year,” proclaimed the Mercedes driver after his 15th Grand Prix victory grinning broadly. “But we still have many races to go.”
In Albert Park Rosberg was on Sunday but of anything or anyone to stop. Not by defending champion Hamilton, who still raced to second place after an impressive comeback. And not by Vettel. With its “Margherita” he put though a turbo start of the silver arrows passing through the tip. In the end he had to the strategy poker after a safety car period following a violent accident of Fernando Alonso but settle behind the Silver Arrows again with the third place.
“The start was great,” summed up Vettel. “But you can say that to us, the red flag has not played in the cards.” Vettel led the Australian Grand Prix at last. After an overtaking maneuver on lap 17, however, Alonso struck with his McLaren. The red flag was waved, the race at Albert Park interrupted for approximately 20 minutes.
Rosberg and Hamilton chose harder tire and picked up after the safety car phase back the top spots. Vettel could not hold against it. “The strategy was crucial,” Rosberg praised the Mercedes crew after his season across fourth win in succession. “The choice of medium tires after the restart was the key to victory,” said Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff.
The fans got to the farce to the new qualifying format a plump PS Show commanded. There were tough wheel-to-wheel duels, a terrible accident, the Alonso unscathed, and a Ferrari of Kimi Räikkönen, from the air box and flames were led to the premature from the Finns. “The race had everything,” raved Wolff. “Crashes, fire fights.”
And besides Rosberg and Vettel two more German in the field. Debutant Pascal Wehrlein but was as 16. Last, was his first Formula 1 race despite brake problems after all, go to the end. Nico Hülkenberg managed in Force India seventh even in the top ten. This was a “positive start”, he said.
The disappointment about the missed start win was noted especially Vettel’s team boss Maurizio Arrivabene in the Scuderia. Whether he was confident of victory, he was asked. “Before the red flag, yes,” replied the Italian. “But we do not look for excuses. Because the red flag is simply part of the race. At the end we have again made hellish pressure. “
Vettel tried chasing Hamilton all. With two laps but he allowed himself a braking mistake, made a ride in the green and had buried the hopes of second place. “Sorry, guys,” Vettel radioed to his crew.
Hadern had Hamilton only for its botched launch. Explain could not the Briton. About his stormy trip he rejoiced all the more. “I am so grateful that I was able to limit the damage,” said Hamilton. “I’ve had much worse season auftakt, so I see that as a bonus.”
The excellent start of Ferrari, because in addition to Vettel also Raikkonen had raced forward, Hamilton left but start to wonder. “We have to find out why that was,” he said.
The success of his teammate and two-time runner-up world champion Rosberg saw Hamilton with the looseness of a three-time champions. “The longer a season lasts,” he said, overlooking the historic high of 21 Grand Prix this year, “the less important is a single race.”
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