Looks like 2016 is indeed more exciting for Formula One. Nico Rosberg won a thrilling season-opener for Mercedes, with teammate Lewis Hamilton taking second after overcoming a bad start from pole position.
“It’s early days but a perfect start,” said Rosberg, who now has won four races in a row dating back to last season. “We need to keep our eyes on the red guys and keep working.”
Hamilton had to work his way back up from P7, after being practically untouchable during the practices and in qualifying. He slipped at the start when Rosberg and Vettel passed him, then Rosberg edged him out and cost him a few more places on the grid.
He then asked to switch strategies and he went into the pits on lap 16, taking on medium tyres and switching from a two-stop strategy to a one-stop plan.
The race had to restart after a horrible crash resulting from contact between McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and Haas’s Esteban Gutierrez. Alonso’s car did a barrel roll and ended up upside down after hitting a barrier. Fortunately, Alonso was able to limp away apparently uninjured after such a crash.
After coming out of that, Rosberg swapped his cars soft tyres to the mediums and only had to wait until Vettel had to make his stop, which happened on lap 35. In the end, Mercedes won despite Vettel leading for 31 laps. Rosberg and Hamilton were all hugs after climbing out of their cars.
They love each other really?#AusGP pic.twitter.com/rwHJp9VT9x
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 20, 2016
All in all, Mercedes won this race pulling away but it does look like Ferrari is much improved and their pace is something to be reckoned with. Red Bull Racing shouldn’t be forgotten either, with Daniel Ricciardo getting fourth place. Red Bull is using Renault power units rebadged as Tag Heuer.
The race was also notable for F1 newcomer Haas, who scored their first points on their debut race. Romain Grosjean raced to 6th place for 8 points.
Well, that was one good race! Mercedes delivered the win again, but the other teams seem to be closer now. The results of the 2016 Australian GP don’t seem to be conclusive so far, but we’ll get another chance to see the teams in action at the Bahrain Grand Prix on April 3.