The race in Albert Park was perhaps not as chaotic as we might have imagined, but it delivered a fascinating start to the season with Sebastian Vettel returning to the top step of the podium for the first time in over a year. Ferrari navigated their one-stop strategy well, timing it right to jump Lewis Hamilton for the lead midway through the race. Lewis came in for some late pressure from his teammate Valtteri Bottas, but held him off for a double Mercedes podium.

Further back, Romain Grosjean was the first retirement, kicking off Haas’s double DNF. Marcus Ericsson and Kevin Magnussen both succumbed to damage picked up during a first lap incident between the pair – which, incidentally, was the only action the stewards looked into, and even then decided not to issue any sanctions. Jolyon Palmer, Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll, and Fernando Alonso all also failed to see the chequered flag.

Meanwhile, Esteban Ocon finished in the top ten to pick up his first points in Formula One, whilst Antonio Giovinazzi put in a solid, if unspectacular debut, to finish 12th.

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Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the first race of the 2017 season, which may not have been too much of a surprise, but it was a shock to see Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo end his session in the wall. The Australian got into the top ten but failed to set a time in Q3, instead mangling his car in front of the home crowd.

Meanwhile, Williams did an incredible job to patch up Lance Stroll’s car following an FP3 crash, but he was still down in 19th place, only ahead of Jolyon Palmer who himself was struggling following his Friday practice crash. Sauber’s Antonio Giovinazzi kept his nose clean in his first F1 qualifying, but was also out in Q1.

Both Toro Rosso drivers made it up into the top ten, whilst Romain Grosjean finished sixth to secure the best grid spot so far for Haas. Out front, Hamilton topped Sebastian Vettel for pole, with Valtteri Bottas missing out on a front row grid slot by just three hundredths of a second.

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The Sauber team were forced to make a late replacement for the still-recuperating Pascal Wehrlein after the German driver confirmed he was withdrawing from the first race of the year after two practice sessions. Wehrlein suffered a back injury in a Race of Champions crash in December, and now says: “My fitness level is not as it should be for a full race distance because of my training deficit. I explained the situation to the team yesterday evening and they decided not to take any risks. It is a pity, but the best decision for the team.”

Boss Monisha Kaltenborn added they fully supported Pascal, saying: “We have great respect for his openness and professionalism. This decision was definitely not an easy one for him and it underlines his qualities as a team player.”

Meanwhile, Ferrari reserve Antonio Giovinazzi will complete the rest of the weekend for the Sauber team, having previously driven for them in pre-season testing in Barcelona. He made his official, if unexpected, F1 debut in Free Practice Three.

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