Australian GP: Vettel wins dominantly in Melbourne

Sebastian Vettel won the Australian Grand Prix, the first race of the 2011 Formula 1 season. In Melbourne the Red Bull Racing driver preceded Lewis Hamilton's McLaren Mercedes and Vitaly Petrov's Lotus Renault GP. Fourth place for Fernando Alonso's Ferrari ahead of Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing), Jenson Button (McLaren) and the Saubers of Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi. Only ninth was Massa with the other Ferrari ahead of Buemi (Toro Rosso).

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At the start Vettel got off to an excellent start despite not using KERS while Hamilton managed to defend himself from Webber's attack. Barrichello ended up very wide at Turn 3 in the gravel while Alonso made a bad start and found himself ninth. Petrov had a good start and moved up to fourth position while Massa jumped to fifth place ahead of Button.

On the second lap Schumacher returned to the pits to change tires after a contact at the start while Alonso managed to overtake Kobayashi in eighth place.

Button immediately tried to attack Massa using the mobile rear wing but the Brazilian defended himself using the KERS.

On lap nine Webber began to complain of tire problems while Alonso quickly closed on Button and Massa. On lap 12 Maldonado was forced to retire. Button attacked Massa but missed the chicane. Shortly afterwards Webber stopped for his first stop, imitated by Alonso and then by Massa.

Button was then penalized on lap 15 with a drive-through penalty for his maneuver on Massa. Shortly afterwards Vettel returned for his stop to fit soft tyres.

On lap 17 it was the turn of Hamilton, second, to make the stop. The Englishman was unable to overtake the Red Bull German who in the meantime continued to set fast laps. The gap between the two therefore increased to five seconds. Meanwhile, Alonso has approached Petrov.

On lap 20 Button stopped for his break and returned to the track in 12th position.

Kovalainen also retired on lap 22 while Barrichello overtook Kobayashi in ninth position with a nice overtake at turn 3. On lap 23 Schumacher retired after spending the entire race at the back of the group.

On lap 24 Barrichello attempted to overtake Rosberg on the inside but hit the Mercedes which got the worst of it and spun. The damage sustained by the car forced the German to retire. Barrichello returned to fit a new front wing, a race ruined for him too.

Meanwhile, on lap 25 Vettel extended his lead over Hamilton to over 7 seconds.

Shortly afterwards Button overtook Kobayashi at the first corner using the floating wing on the straight, moving up to seventh place. Meanwhile, Petrov approached Webber who opted for a new pit stop, fitting soft tires after the first ones had not yielded the desired results.

On lap 28 Alonso also put on soft tires while Barrichello was penalized with a drive-through for contact with Rosberg. Vettel extended his lead over Hamilton to 9 seconds while Petrov was 21.5 seconds behind in third place.

On lap 32 Massa stopped to fit hard tyres. Shortly afterwards Hamilton ran wide at the first corner, losing several seconds and damaging the surface.

Vettel returned on lap 37, followed shortly afterwards by Hamilton and Petrov.

Button returned to fit hard tires on lap 38. Shortly afterwards Alonso attempted to overtake Webber without success.

On lap 41 Webber came in for his stop, the third of the day, to put on soft tyres. The Australian ran wide at Turn 3 on his out lap. Alonso immediately returned to take advantage of the Australian's mistake and managed to get back on track ahead of Webber after fitting hard tyres.

Webber attempted to respond to Alonso using his mobile wing but the Spaniard defended himself. Hamilton began to gradually lose ground to Vettel.

On lap 48 Button overtook Massa. On lap 49 the Brazilian stopped for the third time, leaving seventh place to Perez.

With the soft tires Massa recorded the fastest lap in tenth position and closed in on Buemi, overtaking him on lap 55 using the mobile wing.

Petrov reacted to Alonso's return by setting his best time while Alonso reduced the gap to 2"2 and then to 1"6 on the next lap, now the last. Vettel went on to win with authority ahead of Hamilton and a Petrov in great form.

Alonso is fourth ahead of Webber who stops immediately after the finish line.

Pos Driver Team Time 1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1h29:30.259 2. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 22.297 3. Petrov Renault + 30.560 4. Alonso Ferrari + 31.772 5. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 38.171 6. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 54.300 7. Perez Sauber-Ferrari + 1:05.800 8. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari + 1:16.800 9. Massa Ferrari + 1:25.100 10. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1 lap 11. Sutil Force India-Mercedes + 1 lap 12 Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 1 lap 13. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1 lap 14. Heidfeld Renault + 1 lap 15. Trulli Lotus-Renault + 2 laps 16. D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth + 3 laps Plus lap fast: Massa, 1:28.947