Australian Grand Prix 2018 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Sebastian Vettel started Ferrari's championship challenge in perfect fashion, converting Lewis Hamilton's pole position into victory at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. The German driver made a brilliant overtake on Hamilton during the first round of pit stops, emerging ahead through superior strategy and pace to claim the win at Albert Park.

Hamilton had dominated qualifying to take pole position but couldn't convert it into a race win. Vettel's Ferrari showed superior race pace, and the Scuderia's pit wall executed a perfect undercut strategy that allowed Vettel to jump Hamilton during the first stops. Once in the lead, Vettel controlled the race to the finish, with Hamilton forced to settle for second place. Kimi Raikkonen completed a Ferrari one-two finish, giving the team their best start to a season since 2010 and serving notice that they would be genuine championship contenders.

The race was marred by a frightening crash involving Fernando Alonso, whose McLaren was launched into the air after contact with Haas's Kevin Magnussen. Alonso's car flew over Charles Leclerc's Sauber before slamming into the barriers, but the Halo head protection device proved its worth in its debut season, with the FIA later confirming it had prevented serious injury. Daniel Ricciardo set the fastest lap for Red Bull, showing promising pace despite finishing fifth after starting from the pit lane due to grid penalties.