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The Australian Grand Prix came to an end and, the season got off to a flying start. Vettel won the inaugural Grand Prix, but there were many other drivers who were really impressive.
Hamilton had the fastest car on the day, while his teammate Valtteri Bottas made a disappointing start to the season.
Both Ferrari drivers, Raikkonen and Vettel got podium finishes (first and third). Haas was probably the most impressive team in the race but, unfortunately, due to reliability issues, both the drivers had to retire.
Red Bull made a good start to the season as well, with Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen coming in fourth and sixth respectively.
Ricciardo was one of the fastest drivers in the race. Fernando Alonso finished fifth with the McLaren. This could give him great confidence in the coming Grands Prix.
Let's take a look at five particular drivers who made quite an impression in the opening Grand Prix:
#5 Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
Kevin Magnussen made a great start in the Grand Prix. He was fifth on the grid behind Verstappen.
He quickly overtook the German in the very first corner and, did not let Verstappen reclaim his position. Magnussen looked composed and was drove with great composure.
But, in the 20th lap, Magnussen made a pit-stop to change his tyres.
Unfortunately, the Haas team made a huge error while changing the tyres which ultimately forced Magnussen to retire from the race.
Magnussen could have easily finished in the Top five had he continued, which would have been a huge confidence boost for Haas, as well as Magnussen.
#4 Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Verstappen had a good qualifying round and put himself fourth on the grid. He had a rather shaky start to the race which let Magnussen go ahead of him.
The German then tried as much as he could to drive past Magnussen and earn his spot back but, he failed.
He was the most aggressive driver today and was also the most aggressive drivers around the corners.
This aggression made him lose control over a corner and his car slipped. He quickly regained control over the car and started the race again from the eighth spot. Magnussen had gone way ahead of him now.
Luckily for him, there was no major damage to the car and his pit-stop was also short and effective.
He slipped down to the 11th spot after pitting but, he ended the race in the sixth spot behind his Red Bull teammate, Ricciardo.
#3 Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
The Formula 1 veteran had an amazing day at the Grand Prix. Alonso couldn't make it to the third round of the qualifying stage which saw him earn the 11th spot on the grid.
He started well and gained a couple of spots, early in the race.
But, Alonso took advantage of the safety car situation brilliantly and, jumped to the fifth spot on the grid.
Verstappen was not far behind Alonso but, the Spanish driver did not panic and finished the race ahead of Verstappen.
Verstappen also made an illegal overtake on Alonso when the safety car was brought out. The yellow flag was waving (which means no driver can overtake), but the German failed to see and overtook Alonso. Verstappen then let Alonso go ahead of him.
#2 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
Vettel was simply brilliant in the opening race of the season. After qualifying third fastest, the four-time German World Champion made a good start to the race. He was behind Raikkonen and Hamilton but, did not slip too far behind them.
He did not have the fastest car on the day but, Ferrari's strategies did work brilliantly. Vettel himself told, that he and his team were lucky that they won the Grand Prix. Vettel overtook Hamilton when the safety car was brought on.
Haas driver, Romain Grosjean was forced to retire after the 21st lap, due to which the safety car was brought on.
Vettel took his car to the pits and came out, ahead of Hamilton. The four-time English World Champion could not overtake Vettel in the safety car lap. Vettel then took the lead comfortably and did not let it slip.
#1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Hamilton was simply the best driver in the Grand Prix but, was just unlucky. The British driver had the fastest car and was looking like he was going to win the race easily because the gap between him, Raikkonen and, Vettel was too much.
Hamilton lost his lead to Vettel when the safety car was brought on. Vettel's car was fast enough to not let Hamilton get past him.
In the final few laps, Hamilton's tyres started heating up, due to which, he had to slow down a little bit. Vettel's lead became greater and finished comfortably in the end.
Raikkonen then came close to Hamilton and, in the end, it looked like Hamilton wasn't even going to finish second. But, somehow he scrapped through the race and finished second, behind Vettel.
It is safe to say that the safety car incident changed the course of the race and also, the fates of many drivers.
