Australian Grand Prix (2015): RESULT

With Hamilton on pole and Rosberg in second place for Mercedes, the Australian Grand Prix looked set to be a continuation of 2014. But is that how it panned out?

The winter may have seen many F1 teams faing difficulties – either with their cars of their finances – but Mercedes looked to be serenely progressing to an even more able car in 2015 than they had in 2014.

That seemed to be borne out in yesterday’s qualifying, with Lewis Hamilton comfortably taking pole from Nico Rosberg, with the rest of the field looking like also-rans.

And that’s exactly how it looked in the race itself in Melbourne today, with Hamilton comfortably cruising to victory ahead of Nico Rosberg, with the rest somewhere behind.

And the ‘rest’ was depleted before the race even started, with Bottas ordered not to drive his Williams after injuring his back in qualifying, Magnussen’s McLaren disappearing in a cloud of smoke at the end of the formation lap and Kvyat’s Red Bull gearbox deciding it didn’t want to race.

With no Marussias running it meant just 15 cars starting the race – with Jenson Button’s McLaren at the back – and that was down to 14 after Pastor Maldonado’s Lotus was spun off at the first corner, resulting in a safety car.

When proceedings got under way again it was Hamilton in front, controlling the race from start to finish, followed by Nico Rosberg. Drama free and impressive, but a bit lacking in appeal.

Behind the Mercedes duo it was Vettel in his first outing for Ferrari in third, ahead of Massa’s Williams in fourth and Nasr in the Sauber in fifth.

Daniel Ricciardo could only manage sixth in the Red Bull (and was lapped), ahead of Nico Hulkenberg in the Force India, Ericsson in the second Sauber, Carlos Sainz in the Torro Rosso and Perez in the Force India.

That was the top ten, so where was Jenson Button?

Actually. he managed to finish in 11th spot, which doesn’t sound too bad. But 11th was actually last of the finishers and poor old Jenson – nursing an iffy gearbox – ended the first race of 2015 1 minute 33 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton.

It can’t get any better for Mercedes, and hopefully it won’t get any worse for McLaren Honda.