Australian Grand Prix 2015 as it happened: Lewis Hamilton wins opening race

That’s all from us from the Australian Grand Prix, see you in two weeks when we cover all the F1 action at the Malaysian Grand Prix on the 29th of March.

Arnold @Schwarzenegger conducts the podium interviews. "To be up here with you man... I thought you were taller!", says Hamilton #AusGP

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 15, 2015

After a blank 2014, @SauberF1Team pick up 14 points at the #AusGP: Nasr P5, Ericsson P8 #F1DownUnder pic.twitter.com/WzepYUTxHB

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 15, 2015

Australian GP result:  

1. HAMILTON   2. ROSBERG   3. VETTEL   4. MASSA   5. NASR   6. RICCIARDO  7. HULKENBERG  8. ERICSSON   9. SAINZ  10. PEREZ   11. BUTTON

Ericsson tdoes it!! Takes Sainz for P8 at Turn 13 at the end of the back straight. That’s two Saubers in the top 8!  

Sauber’s message to ERICSSON:
“Well done buddy! Push!"

Lap 54:

With two laps remaining: HAM, ROS, VET, MAS, NAS, RIC, HUL, SAI, ERI, PER, BUT

3 LAPS TO GO: Perez still has 10 seconds to try and gain in five laps if he want’s to nab Sainz and Ericsson for P8. It’s going to be a push, he’s not lapping fast enough to do it at the moment.

Lap 54:
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)  
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 2.0s
3. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 30.3s
4. Felipe Massa (Williams) 33.0s
5. Felipe Nasr (Sauber) 71.0s
6. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) 75.6s
7. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India) +1 lap
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Toro Rosso) +1 lap
9. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber) +1 lap
10. Sergio Perez (Force India) +1 lap
11. Jenson Button (McLaren) +1 lap

BUTTON to McLaren:

“Big problem. Big problem.” 

Currently P11, 25s behind former teammate Perez in 10th.

Meanwhile Force India are in point scoring positions! 

Last 10 laps - Nico in P7, Checo in P10, both in relatively clear air #FeelTheForce #AusGP

— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) March 15, 2015

LAP 49: With 10 laps to go until the chequered flag the leading margin between the Mercedes is oscillating around 1.9s.

Lap 43:
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)  
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)  
3. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)  
4. Felipe Massa (Williams)  
5. Felipe Nasr (Sauber)  
6. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)  
7. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India)  
8. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)  
9. Carlos Sainz Jr (Toro Rosso)  
10. Jenson Button (McLaren)  
11. Sergio Perez (Force India)  
DNF Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 30 laps, mechanical
DNF Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso) 32 laps, mechanical
DNF Romain Grosjean (Lotus) 0 laps, mechanical
DNF Pastor Maldonado (Lotus) 0 laps, accident
DNS Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull)  
DNS Kevin Magnussen (McLaren)  
DNS Valtteri Bottas (Williams)

Stewards will investigate Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari for unsafe release from pits after the race. 

OUT: Kimi Raikkonen's race is over on lap 42. Left rear tyre not fitted properly after pit stop #AusGP pic.twitter.com/wcofzNS5eP

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 15, 2015

OH NO! Kimi Raikkonen pulls up to the side of the track, powers off and sadly it’s race over for the Finn.

Lap 40:  Red Bull tell Ricciardo: “You’re faster than Nasr, let’s have him!” Gap is 0.8secs

Oh no! Max Verstappen is out with engine problem. He was on course for a brilliant finish on debut. Dad Jos can’t watch.

LAP 34: Heartbreak for Max Verstappen, whose F1 debut ends due to Power Unit failure. Yellow flags here. #AusGP pic.twitter.com/uoQQhARDNI

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 15, 2015

Down to 12 cars as Max Verstappen has an engine issue….he has to pull up as he reports smoke coming out car.

So far the field looks like this: 

1 HAM

2 ROS (+2.8)

3 VET (14.2)

4 MAS (+17.5)

5 RAI (+29.4)

Maldonado: "For sure, it's disappointing. But we know we are quick, so looking forward to the next race. We can improve easily" #AusGP

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 15, 2015

Mercedes team meanwhile work like a well-oiled machine. They can do nothing wrong this weekend!

#Rosberg records best pit stop time of the race at 2.9-seconds. Rejoins behind Hamilton. #ausgp

— F1 Australian Grand Prix (@ausgrandprix) March 15, 2015

LAP 21 KEY BATTLES:
1st and 2nd: Hamilton 2.4 seconds ahead of Rosberg
3rd and 4th: Massa 1.5 seconds ahead of Vettel#AusGP

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 15, 2015

Uh oh, terrible luck for Carlos Sainz on his debut! Toro Rosso struggle to get left rear wing off during pit stop. Poor, poor Sainz. #AusGP

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen reporting “suspected loss of front wing” back to the pits. He is currently in 11th, clocks a 1:33.242 on the fresh tyres. Meanwhile Felipe Massa who is third, has a 1.5 second lead over fourth placed Sebasitan Vettel, but reports some degradation on the front left tyre of his Williams.

Lotus’ Romain Grosjean, who retired early in the race: “It was a technical issue that we will investigate.

“But don’t worry it’s different from last year. We have a good car this year. It’s bad luck today but I’m hopeful for this year.”

Raikkonen pits from P6. Looks like they’re going to try to pass Ricciardo on pit strategy. It’s an 8.7s stop though, extremely slow for Ferrari. He was hit from behind during the first-corner carnage, maybe Ferrari were chekcing something at the back of the car. 

 Sergio Perez has a spin at Turn 3, was that a move on former teammate Button? Immediate transmission from the Force India garage “Do you have any damage Checo?"  

“I don’t think so,” comes the reply.

While Checo and Jenson battle, Nico has moved within DRS zone of Verstappen. We're in all the action! #FeelTheForce #AusGP

— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) March 15, 2015

Battle of the race at the moment: Raikkonen putting some serious pressure on Ricciardo for P6. #ausgp

— F1 Australian Grand Prix (@ausgrandprix) March 15, 2015

Checo is closing in on Button ahead. A battle is on the cards for the two former team-mates - Vamos Checo! #FeelTheForce #AusGP

— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) March 15, 2015

LAP 10: Meanwhile the battle is well and truly on at the front! Rosberg has it down to just 1.6 seconds, with he and Hamilton trading turns on being faster.

Force India’s Sergio Perez briefly runs off the track at T3, skittering across the gravel before resuming the race. His Teammate Hulkenberg is languishing in P10.  

Nico is sandwiched between the youngest driver in F1 (Verstappen) and the most experienced (Button) in P10. #FeelTheForce #AusGP

— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) March 15, 2015

Lewis Hamilton leads lap 7 of the race with a comfortable lead, 2.5s clear of histeammate Nico Rosberg. Massa in third but Sebastian Vettel is close on his tail as the battle for P3 intensifies. Meanwhile rounding up the top 8, current battle underway for P4 is between Nasr, Ricciardo, Raikkonen and Sainz. 

A quick look at the new Race Performance Ratings on #F1Access with Hamilton & Vettel #AusGP pic.twitter.com/QWL0osrvb2

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 15, 2015

RACE ORDER on Lap 3 of 58:
1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
3. Felipe Massa (Williams)
4. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
5. Carlos Sainz Jr (Toro Rosso)
6. Felipe Nasr (Sauber)
7. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
8. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
9. Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso)
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India)
11. Sergio Perez (Force India)
12. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)
13. Jenson Button (McLaren)
14. Romain Grosjean (Lotus)
DNF Pastor Maldonado (Lotus)

Pastor Maldonado’s teammate Romain Grosjean is also out. That’s game over for Lotus racing this weekend. 

Back to the garage for @RGrosjean... pic.twitter.com/kpFJlsjW9Y

— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) March 15, 2015

Pastor Maldonado crashes out in the first lap as he hits the wall at turn one. Safety Car deployed. 

SAFETY CAR: Incident between Nasr, Raikkonen and Maldonado and the yellow flags are out on the first lap here #AusGP

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 15, 2015

The Australian Grand Prix is a go!  Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton gets a flyer while Rosberg is hounded by Massa. The Ferrari’s clash at the first corner, Vettel edging Raikkonen aside, the Ice Man Raikkonen falling down the field.

Lot of drama on the track at the Australian Grand Prix and Red Bull Racing driver Kyvat will not be starting the race today. 

Christian Horner on Kvyat: "It's a gearbox issue... It's been one of those weekends. Hopefully it can only get better."#AusGP

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 15, 2015

Hello and welcome to the first race of the year, the Australian Grand Prix!