Start the new season of F1 awaited with particular interest. Numerous changes in the rules allowed to hope for at least some intrigue. And let the training and qualification of sow doubt in the fact that someone will be able to compete with the Mercedes duo of pilots, the race showed — compared to last year at this time the situation has leveled off in the peloton.
The first race of the season could not do without technical problems and, unfortunately, the first unlucky Australian Grand Prix was the Russian Daniil Kvyat. Damage to the electronic unit of the power plant is not allowed to drive his car even lap and he was forced to lay down their arms...
Other participants have successfully started and the first meters gave the audience a bitter struggle — and, from the very first series.
To everyone's surprise in the first round winners of the first and second starting position Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg took only the sixth and third place, respectively! How could this happen? It's simple. To start a Briton bad «left the blocks», behind himself Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) and after letting the distance Rosberg attack.
In turn, Nico in the first turn runs essentially forced his teammate at the outer radius, forcing him to slow down, but he was unable to defend himself from the attacks of another Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen.
And then — a trick: by momentarily lost pace reigning world champion immediately sped Max Verstappen and Felipe Massa. It would seem — what? Who will catch the Briton and the Dutchman Brazilian, they will pass and rush in pursuit of the three leaders! But it was not there…
With the pilot Williams world champion coped relatively easily. The first attack was not successful, but the second — on the outer radius — Lewis earned fifth place. But then we began some inexplicable events.
The speaker on the best car peloton unconditional favorite of the season and the best racer of the past few years, Lewis Hamilton could not cope with yesterday's debutant Max Ferstappenom in possession had a car to last year's engine Ferrari!
And not just «could not handle,» and could not even come close. The gap between the two rivals was held in an area of a second and does not diminish. At one point, three-time champion even demanded his team to change tactics — as it became known later, it was the decisive moment of the race.
At first glance, the first wave of pit stops brought no relief to fans Mercedes — rivals looked much better. For example, Sebastian Vettel after the race in the pit lane has managed to catch up quickly enough to stay on track and Hamilton easily beat him — on the outer radius. A duet of young racers Toro Rosso after the pit stop altogether «stitched» peloton, overtaking one car after another.
Reaching the same boxes as Rosberg and Hamilton went out on an unusual type of rubber — unlike, for example, from the Ferrari drivers, they put the hardest part, that «medium» was in Melbourne.
This, of course, did not add the speed of silver cars, but Mercedes strategists did not think about the pace, and the result at the finish line — and Nico and Lewis had to pass on this set up to the checkered flag. The main thing was not to lose already won positions — German through timely pit stop managed to bypass the same Raikkonen.
The race went on as usual, but on lap 19, Fernando Alonso overtaking attempt crashed into the rear left wheel Haas Esteban Gutierrez, after which his McLaren lost control, left the road, turned over three and a half times, and stopped at the bump stop.
Fortunately, the Spanish rider was able to leave on their own wrecked car — later doctors discovered that the double champion of any health problems in the world. Nevertheless, the race was stopped — the track, and liberally strewn lawn debris.
Stopping the race resets all detachments that certainly exacerbated the struggle. After the restart, the three leaders as part of Vettel, Rosberg and Raikkonen quickly broke away from the group of pursuers, and the Sebastian managed to «leave» from his countryman.
But Kimi turned soon into the pits where the air intake of his Ferrari flew the flame — in this race for the Finn ended. In third place came Daniel Riccardo — the only remaining representative in the race Red Bull Racing.
But Dan did not stay in the top-third went around Hamilton. Australian rolled into the pits and put the softest rubber compound «supersoft» — apparently he expected to compete for a place on the podium, but to do this he failed.
A final order of the top three winners emerged after the next arrival to the pits Sebastian Vettel — thus he missed the second position Lewis Hamilton. In Ferrari we have suggested that Mercedes drivers will not be able to drive to the end of the race on one set.
However, this assumption proved to be wrong. And Vettel had no choice but to attack struggling to catch up with Rosberg and Hamilton. After fatal for the German pit stop before the end of the race was quite a lot of laps and two laps to go Sebastian overtook Lewis did. But here he has a German made a mistake — went off the track on the grass and let the Briton off again. In this struggle in the top three was completed.
Nico Rosberg won ahead of his teammate Lewis Hamilton in the eight and a half seconds. Sebastian Vettel at the end of the race winner lost nine and a half seconds.
Then Daniel Riccardo finished and Felipe Massa. Sixth place brought a new team Haas Romain Grosjean — he left behind Nico Hulkenberg, Valtteri Bottas, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Max Verstappen.
The next stage of the Formula 1 will be held on April 3 in Bahrain.
Photo: XPB Images / F1Fanatic.co.uk
