Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari have kicked off the 2017 Formula One season in style, taking victory at the curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix.
The German took advantage of an ailing Lewis Hamilton, who found himself battling tyre issues and was stuck behind the Red Bull of Max Verstappen – following his first pit-stop.
After the Dutchman took his own pit-stop for supersoft tyres, Hamilton was released, however was unable to make an impression on the German in front.
Instead he fell under pressure from his teammate Valtteri Bottas, who finished a solid third in his Mercedes AMG debut.
It was a race that Daniel Ricciardo was unable to finish, having come into the grand prix facing a five-place grid penalty for a change of gearbox following his qualifying crash.
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The Aussie then encountered an electrical issue on the way to the grid, before having been forced to start from the pit-lane.
Though ultimately it was a hiding into nothing with the Red Bull driver retiring midway through the grand prix.
Whilst overtaking was sparse, there were a couple of good moves made including one from rookie Lance Stroll on the Sauber of Marcus Ericsson.
The 18-year old dived down the inside of the Swede into Turn 1, however ultimately failed to finish race retiring on Lap 40.
Fernando Alonso had his hands full too when Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg came charging three-abreast down the pit-straight to usurp tenth place on Lap 52.
A lap later, the Spaniard had to retire his McLaren with suspension issues diagnosed.
From the dizzying heights of a points finish on debut in 2016, Haas’ 2017 Australian Grand Prix ended in turmoil with both cars out of the race.
Kevin Magnussen tangled with Ericsson on the first lap, with both cars having initially survived the incident – but later succumbed to damage.
Other debutants in Stoffel Vandoorne and Antonio Giovinazzi who was deputising for the unfit Pascal Wehrlein, both ended the race as classified finishers.
Giovinazzi finished two laps down from the leader in twelfth, whilst Vandoorne in a troublesome race in his McLaren was thirteenth.
Toro Rosso, whilst having a largely anonymous race, had both cars finish in the points with Carlos Sainz eighth and Daniil Kvyat ninth – having run long into his first stint on ultrasoft tyres.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
Maybe because Hamilton ungraciously spent the whole winter rubbishing Rosberg and trying to diminish his championship.
Mad Dog
Guest
If people are booing him they obviously dont like him so its not some generalisation I've made up.
Buffy
Guest
Well said. The Brits have more manners and class(and i'm not a Brit). And what made that booing worse in Oz, was that there was no OBVIOUS reason for it. Just Aussies being their usual rude, obnoxious selves.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/motorsport/1413303/silverstone-grand-prix-nico-rosberg-booed-by-brit-formula-one-fans-at-silverstone-after-lewis-hamilton-crash/ Rosberg booed last year at Silverstone.
Da Spoon
Guest
Heard the Aussies booing. Shameful really. You won't hear us boo riciardo at silverstone. Don't know why you do it. It's just makes you look bad.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
I remember Vettel getting booed in Singapore back in the Red Bull days. Must be all those bogan Singaporeans... I'm surprised Hamilton doesn't get booed every where because he's such a prima donna, sore loser and ungracious winner.
Buffy
Guest
Hamilton was booed in Australia last year, and i think once in Austria, where it was wrongly thought that he had caused a collision with Rosberg. Other than that, he hasn't been booed anywhere else. And this "people" don't like him is too much of a generalisation. He has wide support globally. Successful figures are always divisive e.g. Senna, Schumacher--but Hamilton has huge support so please stop making sweeping generalisations. And as for his conduct, well at least he hasn't told Charlie Whiting to f-off, or keep screaming "blue flag". This argument that his conduct is the cause of the booing is rubbish. All the top drivers can act like arseholes when it suits them. Even Ricciardo accusing his team of screwing him over in Monaco 2016 & sulking about "my time". They all do it so that's not an excuse for the booing. Poor form from Aussies. Let's hope the Chinese show the Aussies a thing or two about manners and class.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
The drivers feedback so far on these cars are that yes, it's making them drive a lot harder and they can push longer on the tyres, but all that extra aero added to the cars has made it difficult for overtaking. If these new regulations fail, then perhaps it's time to axe the Strategy Group so we don't get any more of their concepts, since each member only does what's in their team's best interest. And these aero rules were devised to try and stop the Mercedes AMG dominance. Ross Brawn of FOG in future should work with the FIA exclusively in writing the rule book.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Your last two lines are absolutely true. Indeed yesterday was a slow burn, but the outcome was satisfying for most, that Ferrari actually beat Mercedes AMG on pace alone. Last year's race was pretty entertaining too on the racing front, though for some it was deemed artificial because of the overtakes.
Mad Dog
Guest
Watch a motogp race. Has everything you want in half the time
Mad Dog
Guest
In all honesty, I've seen Hamilton get booed at a lot of races. People don't like him. I'm personally not a 'booer' because i think its a bit silly but at the same time, who am i to say to someone they cant boo a driver or any other athlete because they dont like them. Its part of that freedom of speech thing
Big Steve
Guest
No apparent reason. top shelf trolling.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
I thought it was an interesting race because we had a legitimate fight at the front, rather than one which is stage managed (ie. whoever makes it to the first corner in front can get first choice on the strategy). Then later in the race you had Bottas reeling in Hamilton which was exciting to see what was going to happen. That's F1. Most races are "boring". Always have been, always will. Have soft tyres and three pit stops per race, people complain that the racing is artificial. Have a legitimate fight at the front of the field with difficult overtaking, then it's boring.
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
Rosberg was routinely booed as well. Now it's Hamilton's turn. He's brought it on himself with how he conducts himself.
Buffy
Guest
It put Aussies in a poor light. One Aussie poster on another forum described it as Aussies being their usual "dickhead" selves. Another, described it as a "bogan booze fuelled crowd". Let's hope the China crowd shows the Aussies how to behave with dignity & decorum. No wonder Aussies have got a reputation for being rude and uncouth.
Henryed
Guest
A thoroughly boring race. We got up just after five to watch what was billed as going to be a great race. What did we get? About a third of the field having mechanical problems and not finishing, no real chasing and overtaking, just a procession around the circuit. If we had a gold fish in a bowl and watched it, the excitement level wouldn't have been more. Brilliant drivers, but doing what? None of us wants to see drivers injured, or worse, but something is missing,compared to years before. We are staying in bed next F1. He'd.
Mad Dog
Guest
Agree 100%. Also i think it was just Hamilton getting the boos and jeers. I think most people would be absolutely stoked to see Bottas win a few races no matter what car he's in
SmithHatesMaxwell
Guest
I thought it was great. Hamilton is such a sore loser. Vettel was routinely booed in 2013 for far less than what Hamilton has done.
Buffy
Guest
Awful Aussie crowd booing the Merc drivers for no apparent reason. Shameful.
Big Steve
Guest
disappointing race. swap rosberg for vettel and repeat 2016. it will be more exciting cause the cars are different colours. all the talk about the cars seems overboard. Australians might be cursed on this track.