Sebastian Vettel won the Australian Grand Prix 2018

Football Full Time   March 25, 2018   Formula 1   Comment  

Sebastian Vettel won a tedious Australian Grand Prix after made the most of good fortune during a safety car period to snatch victory from Lewis Hamilton in the 2018 F1 season opener. 



The Mercedes driver was in control of the race until Romain Grosjean's Haas stopped on track and officials imposed a virtual safety-car, which restricts the pace of the cars on track.

The world champion had already made his pit stop but Vettel had yet to make his - and Ferrari pounced on the opportunity.
Overtaking is notoriously difficult at Albert Park and once Sebastian Vettel had made it to the front, Hamilton could pressure him but do little else.

A pit stop made under the virtual safety car takes 10 seconds less than one made when the cars are at full speed and the time gain of stopping while Lewis Hamilton was restricted on track allowed Vettel to rejoin the race just ahead of the Mercedes.

Hamilton’s confusion after the race was understandable. He had led from pole and looked entirely in control for the opening stint. He opened a gap ahead of the two chasing Ferraris and at no point did either look as though they had the pace to close it, let alone attempt to pass the Mercedes driver.



Sebastian Vettel secure his 48th career victory.
Vettel’s victory means he has now achieved 100 podiums, joining Michael Schumacher, Alain Prost and Hamilton in that elite club.

Vettel admitted Ferrari had enjoyed some good fortune. “We got a bit lucky with the timing of the safety car,” he said. “If you are at the front you can control the race, we know overtaking is difficult. Lewis was probably the quickest of the three of us but that’s the way it goes.”


Vettel's team mate Kimi Raikkonen kept Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo at bay to secure the final podium position, but there was heartbreak for Haas as both Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean retired from fourth and fifth following a wheel gun issue during their pit stops.



Full race results for the Australian Grand Prix, the opening round of the 2018 F1 season at Albert Park, Melbourne.



1. Sebastian Vettel GER Scuderia Ferrari 58 laps, 1hr 29m 33.283s

2. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport +5.036s

3. Kimi Raikkonen FIN Scuderia Ferrari +6.309s

4. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Aston Martin Red Bull Racing +7.069s

5. Fernando Alonso ESP McLaren F1 Team +27.886s

6. Max Verstappen NED Aston Martin Red Bull Racing +28.945s

7. Nico Hulkenberg GER Renault Sport Formula One Team +32.671s

8. Valtteri Bottas FIN Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport +34.339s

9. Stoffel Vandoorne BEL McLaren F1 Team +34.921s

10. Carlos Sainz Jr. ESP Renault Sport Formula One Team +45.722s

11. Sergio Perez MEX Sahara Force India F1 Team +46.817s

12. Esteban Ocon FRA Sahara Force India F1 Team +1m 00.278s

13. Charles Leclerc MON Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team +1m 15.759s

14. Lance Stroll CAN Williams Martini Racing +1m 18.288s

15. Brendon Hartley NZL Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda +1 lap

Did not finish

Romain Grosjean FRA Haas F1 Team 24 laps

Kevin Magnussen DEN Haas F1 Team 22 laps

Pierre Gasly FRA Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda 13 laps

Sergey Sirotkin RUS Williams Martini Racing 5 laps

Marcus Ericsson SWE Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team 4 laps.



The next race is the FORMULA 1 2018 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX, Fri 06 Apr – Sun 08 Apr 2018.