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Reuters in Melbourne

Nico Rosberg drew first blood for Mercedes in the new Formula One season with a dominant Australian Grand Prix victory on Sunday after pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton and world champion Sebastian Vettel retired with reliability problems.
“That was an incredible day for us. 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,” Rosberg said.
“I always dreamed of having such a strong Silver Arrow and now it seems we are there."
Vettel’s early exit ended the Red Bull driver’s record run of nine successive victories racked up since last August.
As one German smarted, another celebrated with 28-year-old Rosberg capitalising on a brilliant start from third on the grid.

	Brilliant stuff, what a car you’ve given me! What a car!

	Nico Rosberg
He snatched the lead before the first turn and roared to a 24.5-second victory ahead of Red Bull’s Australian Daniel Ricciardo.
On an overcast day at Albert Park, Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen shone with a brilliant third place finish for McLaren, emulating Hamilton’s first effort for the British team at the same Grand Prix in 2007.
The result meant all three men on the podium had beaten world champion teammates in a stunning triumph of the underdogs.
But the celebrations were short-lived for Ricciardo, who was stripped of his first F1 podium finish at his home track after his car was found to have broken fuel regulations, the governing FIA said.
The decision meant McLaren’s Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen moved up from third to second, with teammate Jenson Button taking third place.
Red Bull said they had notified the governing body immediately of their intention to appeal.
“Inconsistencies with the FIA fuel flow meter have been prevalent all weekend up and down the pit lane,” the team said. “The team and Renault are confident the fuel supplied to the engine is in full compliance with the regulations.”
Rosberg, tipped to duel with teammate Hamilton for the championship, celebrated his fourth race victory and first since last year’s British Grand Prix, when he was also the beneficiary of technical mishaps to Hamilton and Red Bull’s Vettel.
“Brilliant stuff, what a car you’ve given me! What a car!” the thrilled German said over the team radio after crossing the line.
“The car was just really, really quick today,” the German later said, looking forward with relish to the next race in Malaysia in two weeks.
“A really good engine, not much problem with fuel consumption. It just all worked perfectly.”
The gaping margin of victory underscored Mercedes’ superior preparations for F1’s technical revolution, which saw all teams struggle during winter testing with the new V6 turbocharged hybrid engines.
The glitches continued as only 14 of the 22 cars finished on a gusty day at the bumpy street circuit, which was doused by a brief shower of rain early in the race.
Hamilton, who snatched pole position at the end of a wet qualifying session on Saturday, noticeably lacked power on his start and was called in by his team to retire on the third lap.
Mercedes later clarified his car had suffered a misfiring cylinder. “We will recover from this, it’s only a small hiccup. There’s a long way to go still,” Hamilton told Sky television.
“At the moment I’m not concerned about anything.”
First Aussie
Twelfth off the grid, Vettel also struggled at the start and retired only a few laps after Hamilton, complaining of engine performance problems.
Ricciardo, who replaced compatriot Mark Webber at Red Bull after crossing from sister team Toro Rosso, thrilled home fans earlier by taking his maiden podium spot in his first race with his new team and drove with admirable composure after being challenged by Magnussen over the closing laps.

	First Aussie on the Aussie podium, so really proud

	Daniel Ricciardo
The finish was a boost for the Milton Keynes-based team, who endured a dismal winter testing in which neither driver was able to complete a race simulation.
“Two, three weeks ago, I would have bet pretty much anything we have that we would not be standing up here,” the 24-year-old said before his disqualification.
“First Aussie on the Aussie podium, so really proud.”
Magnussen’s podium was the first by a Dane in Formula One and McLaren’s first since 2012, the 21-year-old outshining 2009 champion team mate Jenson Button, who finished fourth in front of Ferrari’s two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.
Williams driver Valtteri Bottas finished sixth for his best F1 result after an outstanding race from 15th on the grid, having also overcome a punctured rear tyre after brushing a barrier.
His eight-point haul was more than his team scored in all of last season.
His new teammate Felipe Massa was unable to add to the tally, however, having been taken out of the race at the first turn by Caterham’s Kamui Kobayashi.

The Japanese ploughed into the back of Massa’s Williams, enraging the Brazilian and prompting an FIA investigation.
Kimi Raikkonen’s eighth-placed finish behind Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg capped a frustrating return to Maranello for the 2007 world champion, who started 11th on the grid after a crash during qualifying.
Russian rookie Daniil Kvyat finished 10th on his debut for Toro Rosso, becoming at 19 years old the sport’s youngest points scorer.
Lotus’ insipid race weekend finished with both Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado unable to complete the race due to reliability problems.
The race stumbled at the start, with Marussia driver Max Chilton stalling on the grid before the pre-start installation lap and his team mate Jules Bianchi then repeating the mishap.
Bianchi, along with both Caterhams, was unable to finish.


Nico Rosberg steers Mercedes to crushing win as underdogs shine in opening F1 race 

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg celebrates after winning the Australian Formula One Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit. Photo: Xinhua

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg of Germany races through a corner in the Silver Arrow. Photo: AFP

Winner Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg applauds second-placed Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull as he lifts his trophy. The Australian was later disqualified for breaching fuel use rules. Photo: Reuters 

Kamui Kobayashi of Caterham in the gravel bed after crashing during the 2014 Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: EPA

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso steers ahead of the pack as marshalls remove the car of Brazilian driver Felipe Massa of Williams at the start of the 2014 Formula One Grand Prix at Albert Park.  Photo: EPA

Third-placed Danish driver Kevin Magnussen of McLaren celebrates on the podium in Melbourne. He was promoted to second after Daniel Ricciardo was disqualified. Photo: EPA

Lewis Hamilton on pole position for Australian GP

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton of Britain on his way to pole position in Saturday's rain-hit qualifying session. Photo: AP

Red Bull bounce back from winter woes

German F1 driver Sebastian Vettel removes his gloves at the end of the second practice session in Melbourne. Photo: EPA 

REd Bull's Sebastian Vettel drives on the pit lane during the second practice session ahead of Sunday's Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne. Photo: EPA

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso checks his times as he sits in the cockpit of his car in the first practice session at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. Photo: AFP


Sebastian Vettel tips Mercedes to win Australian Grand Prix

Mercedes' Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton signs autographs at Albert Park ahead of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix. Photo: Reuters

Sport

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Reliability woes force Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel to retire as Kevin Magnussen earns podium on debut 
