Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel won the season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday, ahead of world champion Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.

Vettel won by almost 10 seconds, leaving Hamilton at second place and his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas at third.  It was Ferrari’s first win in Melbourne since Kimi Raikkonen’s victory in 2007 and Vettel’s second in Australia after winning the 2011 race with Red Bull.

Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was fourth with Verstappen fifth ahead of Brazilian Felipe Massa in the Williams.

Ferrari got the better of Mercedes in the sole round of tyre changes which ultimately decided the race. “A title challenge is a long way ahead. For now we are just over the moon at the start we have made here today,” Vettel said.

It was Vettel’s fourth win for Ferrari,  his first since Singapore in 2015 and his 43rd career win.