Lewis Hamilton yesterday began his reign as champion of the world with the most comfortable of drives to victory in the Australian Grand Prix. Hamilton had this one and Nico Rosberg in his pocket throughout.
The two-time champion eased to take the chequered flag, keeping his Mercedes teammate comfortably at bay. Worryingly for Rosberg, he had no answers to his rival's superior pace all weekend.
Sebastian Vettel, in his first race for Ferrari, overcame Felipe Massa to take the final podium spot. Felipe Nasr, one of several rookies to impress, finished fifth after a turbulent weekend of legal battles for Sauber. The team have 14 points and are third in the constructors' championship after ending last year with none.
Unsurprisingly, given their dire qualifying display, Jenson Button finished dead last for McLaren. At least he made it to the end.
In truth, there was probably more action for the packed crowd before the race and on the podium than during. First there was the news that Valtteri Bottas, Williams' young star, was out with a back spasm. Then mechanical gremlins conspired to produce just 15 cars at the start, the lowest in a season-opener since 1963.
