Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel started the new Formula One season with a flawless race from pole to finish to win the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Starting from pole position, Vettel maintained his lead right from the start, speeding away and was never seriously threatened by anyone else. Lewis Hamilton could have had his chances, but unfortunately the damaged floor on his car caused him problems when he went wide on turn one of his 32nd lap, and he eventually had to settle for second.

Vettel, who drove a two-stop strategy on the new Pirelli tyres, made his first pit stop on the 14th lap to change tyres and emerged third ahead of McLaren's Jenson Button. He was soon back in the lead after Hamilton and Petrov made their pit stops two laps later.

Renault's Vitaly Petrov finished in a surprise third, with the driver claiming his first ever podium finish while Ferrari's Fernando Alonso finished fourth with Vettel's team mate, Australian Mark Webber in a disappointing fifth.