German Nico Rosberg recorded his 4th career win this Sunday, as the 2014 F1 season kicked off in Melbourne.
The 28-year-old who qualified 3rd yesterday led every lap from the start aboard his Mercedes W05 to eventually cross the finish line 24 seconds clear of the field, in what is Mercedes' 100th win. It is also the 1st win in the new V6 turbo era (obviously).
"That was an incredible day for us," hailed Rosberg.
"To start the season with a win is unbelievable and I have to say a big thank you to everybody who was involved in building our car over the winter."
Pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton, behind the wheel of the second Silver Arrow, had to retire after only two laps with a misfiring cylinder.
"It looks like we only had five cylinders firing and, while I wanted to keep going, we had to play safe and save the engine," explained the 2008 world champion.
"It’s unfortunate but that’s racing and we will recover from this. We have a great car and engine, and the pace was really strong today as Nico clearly showed. Big congratulations to him and the team for achieving the win, it’s a fantastic result for us."
The team's executive director Toto Wolff dedicated the win to former Mercedes driver and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who is still recovering from a terrible skiing accident.
"I would like to dedicate it to Michael, who has been in all our thoughts this weekend," said the Austrian. "He will keep fighting, as only he knows how, and we are sending all our strength to him today."
Race results* – Australian Grand Prix (round 1 of 19)
1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 57 laps 1.32'58"710
2 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 26"777
3 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 30"027
4 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14-T) - 35"284
5 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 47"639
6 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 50"718
7 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14-T) - 57"675
8 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'00"441
9 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'03"585
10 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'25"916
11 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1 lap
12 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1 lap
13 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 2 laps
14 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 8 laps
Fastest lap of the race: 1'32"478 by Nico Rosberg
Retirements
Lap 43 – Romain Grosjean
Lap 29 – Pastor Maldonado
Lap 27 – Marcus Ericsson
Lap 3 – Sebastian Vettel
Lap 2 – Lewis Hamilton
Lap 1 – Felipe Massa
Lap 1 – Kamui Kobayashi
Disqualification
Daniel Ricciardo
Drivers' championship
1.Rosberg 25; 2.Magnussen 18; 3.Button 15; 4.Alonso 12; 5.Bottas 10; 6.Hulkenberg 8; 7.Raikkonen 6; 8.Vergne 4; 9.Kvyat 2; 10.Perez 1.
Constructors' championship
1.McLaren-Mercedes 33; 2.Mercedes 25; 3.Ferrari 18; 5.Williams-Mercedes 10; 6.Force India-Mercedes 9; 7.Toro Rosso-Ferrari 6.
*Unofficial results
 |
| Photo: WRi2 |
The 28-year-old who qualified 3rd yesterday led every lap from the start aboard his Mercedes W05 to eventually cross the finish line 24 seconds clear of the field, in what is Mercedes' 100th win. It is also the 1st win in the new V6 turbo era (obviously).
"That was an incredible day for us," hailed Rosberg.
 |
| Nico Rosberg, Mercedes W05 (Photo: WRi2) |
"To start the season with a win is unbelievable and I have to say a big thank you to everybody who was involved in building our car over the winter."
Pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton, behind the wheel of the second Silver Arrow, had to retire after only two laps with a misfiring cylinder.
"It looks like we only had five cylinders firing and, while I wanted to keep going, we had to play safe and save the engine," explained the 2008 world champion.
 |
| Photo: WRi2 |
"It’s unfortunate but that’s racing and we will recover from this. We have a great car and engine, and the pace was really strong today as Nico clearly showed. Big congratulations to him and the team for achieving the win, it’s a fantastic result for us."
The team's executive director Toto Wolff dedicated the win to former Mercedes driver and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who is still recovering from a terrible skiing accident.
"I would like to dedicate it to Michael, who has been in all our thoughts this weekend," said the Austrian. "He will keep fighting, as only he knows how, and we are sending all our strength to him today."
 |
| Kevin Magnussen, McLaren MP4-29 (Photo: WRi2) |
Race results* – Australian Grand Prix (round 1 of 19)
1 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W05) - 57 laps 1.32'58"710
2 - Kevin Magnussen (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 26"777
3 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/29-Mercedes) - 30"027
4 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F14-T) - 35"284
5 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW36-Mercedes) - 47"639
6 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 50"718
7 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F14-T) - 57"675
8 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'00"441
9 - Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso STR9-Renault) - 1'03"585
10 - Sergio Perez (Force India VJM07-Mercedes) - 1'25"916
11 - Adrian Sutil (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1 lap
12 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C33-Ferrari) - 1 lap
13 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 2 laps
14 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR03-Ferrari) - 8 laps
Fastest lap of the race: 1'32"478 by Nico Rosberg
Retirements
Lap 43 – Romain Grosjean
Lap 29 – Pastor Maldonado
Lap 27 – Marcus Ericsson
Lap 3 – Sebastian Vettel
Lap 2 – Lewis Hamilton
Lap 1 – Felipe Massa
Lap 1 – Kamui Kobayashi
Disqualification
Daniel Ricciardo
Drivers' championship
1.Rosberg 25; 2.Magnussen 18; 3.Button 15; 4.Alonso 12; 5.Bottas 10; 6.Hulkenberg 8; 7.Raikkonen 6; 8.Vergne 4; 9.Kvyat 2; 10.Perez 1.
Constructors' championship
1.McLaren-Mercedes 33; 2.Mercedes 25; 3.Ferrari 18; 5.Williams-Mercedes 10; 6.Force India-Mercedes 9; 7.Toro Rosso-Ferrari 6.
*Unofficial results
 |
| Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull RB10 (Photo: WRi2) |