Formula 1: Vettel leapfrogs Hamilton to win 2018 season opener
Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel got off to a stellar start in the 2018 Formula One Championship, after winning the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. Vettel finished ahead of Mercedes driver Hamilton with Ferrari team-mate Raikkonen taking the third place. Vettel was benefited due to a miscalculation by Mercedes, during a virtual safety-car period. If not for this mistake, this could have been Hamilton's race.
Safety car period halts Hamilton's charge
Hamilton was in control but he had to surrender the impetus when a bizarre Haas error came into play. Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean both retired after poor pit stops. Grosjean pulled off on lap 24 between Turns Two and Three before abandoning his car. Virtual safety car was imposed and as Vettel took the lead it turned into a full safety car period.
McLaren benefit as Alonso finishes fifth
Fernando Alonso (5th) and Stoffel Vandoorne (9th) benefited largely because of safety period. Alonso ran long like Vettel to finish fifth. He was in constant pressure from Red Bull's Max Verstappen but he held him off. McLaren were in their first race with Renault engines.
