2015 F1 Round 1, Australian Grand Prix Race: Hamilton Wins as Vettel Takes Podium on Ferrari Debut

The 58-lap 2015 Australian Grand Prix took place at Albert Park on March 15. Starting from pole, Hamilton finished in 1 hour, 31 minutes and 54.067 seconds, 1.360 seconds ahead of team-mate Rosberg, to secure Mercedes’ first victory of the new season.

Before the race, Bottas withdrew with a back injury, while neither of Manor’s two cars qualified to take part. Among the drivers expected to start, Magnussen and Kvyat then suffered car failures, leaving just 15 cars on the grid and a markedly reduced field for the season opener.

At the start, Vettel was slow away, and Räikkönen was alongside his team-mate as they entered Turn 1. After running over the inside kerb, Vettel moved across, forcing Räikkönen onto the outside kerb and costing him positions. Nasr, Maldonado and Räikkönen then battled for position through the corner, with Maldonado crashing into the barrier and retiring.

The two Mercedes cars set the pace at the front, with Hamilton controlling the lead and Rosberg keeping up the chase. Their final margin was 1.360 seconds, and both completed 58 laps. Mercedes held the top two positions throughout, from the start to the finish, with neither driver retiring.

Vettel chased Massa in the first half of the race, but the situation changed after their first pit stops: Vettel stopped later and emerged ahead of Massa. Massa continued to apply pressure, but Vettel held on to third to take a podium in his first Grand Prix for Ferrari.

Massa finished fourth, while Nasr completed his F1 debut in fifth, scoring 10 points for Sauber. The official report noted that these were Sauber’s first points since 2013. Ericsson finished eighth after completing 57 laps, putting both of the team’s cars in the points.

Räikkönen retired after completing 40 laps. Verstappen also failed to finish, with the official classification recording 32 completed laps. Grosjean and Maldonado both retired, while Magnussen and Kvyat failed to start, leaving just 11 cars to cross the finish line.

Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel stood on the podium, with Massa fourth and Nasr fifth. Ricciardo, Hülkenberg, Ericsson, Sainz and Pérez finished sixth to tenth respectively. Button finished 11th but outside the points, leaving McLaren without a point from the season opener.