Bottas beats Hamilton to claim season-opening Australian Grand Prix
Valtteri Bottas beat Mercedes team-mate and reigning Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton to victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Hamilton qualified on pole in Melbourne for the sixth straight year but was overtaken into turn one and was unable to keep up with Bottas, who ended a wait for a win that stretched back to the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen put pressure on Hamilton in the closing stages but had to settle for third after passing Sebastian Vettel on lap 31.
The Mercedes duo expressed their surprise after locking out the front row in comfortable fashion on Saturday and it was unlikely either of them expected Bottas to run away with the win.
The Finn made full use of the open road in front of him following the first corner and he somehow continued to outpace Hamilton and Vettel after they pitted for fresh tyres.
Hamilton complained he was struggling to manage the medium compound around the midway point and Bottas, who took the bonus point for posting the fastest lap, continued to eke time out of his team-mate.
While Hamilton became preoccupied with Verstappen, whose attempts to steal second were hindered by going off track, Bottas was able to take the chequered flag six years to the day since his F1 debut.
BREAKING: @ValtteriBottas powers to a stunning victory at the #AusGP, beating team-mate @LewisHamilton by more than 20 seconds in Melbourne pic.twitter.com/QeuxKGwdpM— Formula 1 (@F1) March 17, 2019
EARLY BOOST FOR BOTTAS
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff outlined that Bottas had to perform at a higher level in 2019 in order to retain his seat for another season and the 29-year-old set about doing that as quickly as possible.
Finishing over 20 seconds ahead of Hamilton showed he means business this year, but the challenge now will be for him to maintain it across the next 20 races.
VETTEL LEFT PERPLEXED
Ferrari were thought to be leading the way after pre-season testing in Barcelona, but Vettel admitted the car was struggling in corners during qualifying.
After Verstappen overtook him for the final step on the podium and team-mate Charles Leclerc started to close in, Vettel said over team radio: “Why are we so slow?”
It is a question the four-time world champion will be hoping Ferrari find the answer to quickly.
LAP 48/58
Leclerc is reeling in team mate Vettel
The gap stands at just over two seconds currently…#AusGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/Y5n86S1VPh— Formula 1 (@F1) March 17, 2019
NIGHTMARE START FOR RICCIARDO
Daniel Ricciardo had not even reached the first corner of his home grand prix on his Renault debut when he was squeezed off the track and ended up losing his front wing.
The Australian managed to guide his car back to the pits but returned at the back of the field and had to retire after being lapped by Bottas before the halfway mark.
IN THE POINTS
1. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes)
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +20.886s
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +22.520s
4. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) +57.109s
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +58.230s
6. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) +87.156s
7. Nico Hulkenberg (Renault) +1 Lap
8. Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo) +1 Lap
9. Lance Stroll (Racing Point) +1 Lap
10. Daniil Kvyat (Toro Rosso) +1 Lap
DRIVER STANDINGS
1. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 26
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 18 (-8)
3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 15 (-11)
4. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 12 (-14)
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 10 (-16)
CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS
1. Mercedes 44
2. Ferrari 22 (-22)
3. Red Bull 15 (-29)
4. Haas 8 (-36)
5. Renault 6 (-38)
WHAT’S NEXT?
There’s a fortnight to wait until F1 returns at the Bahrain Grand Prix at the end of March.
