Formula 1

Rosberg wins the season opener in Melbourne

The Mercedes dominance continues in the new season. Nico Rosberg wins ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari lost the Chance for victory due to a tactics error. And a spektakuärer Crash shocks everyone.

The most important thing first of all: All have remained healthy. This was not, of course, at this Great price of Melbourne. Because in the 18. Round to Fernando Alonso in an attempt to Overtake on Esteban Gutierrez, who had demolished the right front wheel, and twice over. However, after a few seconds could release Alonso from the wreck itself. A bit dizzy, he snuck on the track. “I was afraid of him,” Gutierrez during the race. Even in his heavily damaged car sitting, he had enquired of the Box after Alonso’s state of health: “Is he okay,” he asked, audibly shocked.

The all-clear came a few minutes later by Alonso. “It is a frightening, a terrifying Moment. I’m glad to be here and would like to thank the FIA, the world governing body, and the security officer,” he said in the TV Interview. In fact – a few years ago, he would have survived this spectacular crash, only with a lot of luck.

Fernando Alonso can independently get out of his McLaren-wreck

Also, without the Crash Alonso would have had no Chance to win. Because he was only started in the midfield in the race. Up front, the usual Suspects went to the season opener, however, first of all, in an unexpected order. Because at the Start Sebastian Vettel moved, seemingly effortlessly, even before the first round of the two Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg moved to the top of lonely his rounds.

On the wrong tire set

But the interruption of the race after Alonso accident mixed the cards in a completely new. 20 minutes the riders were on the boxes, it was necessary to forge a new tactic plan. And here is Vettel’s Ferrari Crew made, apparently, in a race key error. Instead, the hard-Medium tyre as most of the competitors, it was decided, with the soft and Supersoft-models continue. The don’t hold as long, which meant an extra pit stop, while the Mercedes were able to pilot without interruption.

So Rosberg drove his TRANS-seasonal fourth victory, behind the duel of Hamilton and Vettel to second place. As Vettel slipped three laps before the end after a braking error into the Grass and a little time lost, it was also decided in this battle. “I’ve seen a lot worse season openings,” said Hamilton after the race: “The season is still long, it can and will happen.”Local hero Daniel Ricciardo in the Red Bull Fourth. “I am very happy”, exulted Rosberg at the award ceremony”, “but for us, it is, of course, also in the next race to continue to keep Red at a distance.”

Nico Hulkenberg was Force India to a respectable seventh place, formula 1 rookie Pascal Wehrlein finished the race as 16th. After all, His Manor, was also making his debut, kept at it.

Here you will experience once again the race in his chronology: