Kimi Raikkonen wins 2013 Australian GP

Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) has driven a well calculated race to claim the 2013 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne this afternoon. For the Albert Park circuit it was an unusually trouble-free race with no Safety Car periods, this allowed Raikkonen to maximise his two-stop strategy, which was one stop fewer than his closest rivals.

Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) turned his P5 starting position into a second place, finishing 12.4 seconds behind Kimi. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) finds himself on the bottom podium step, not what he would have planned after claiming pole position this morning.

Mark Webber (Red Bull) made a poor start from P2 and could only manage a sixth place result, behind Felipe Massa (Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). Webber revealed after the race he lost KERS and there were telemetry issues, before conceding he didn’t have the pace to fight for the win in any case.

Adrian Sutil’s (Force India) return to Grand Prix racing delivered some time in the spotlight, twice he lead the race, before slipping down to P7 due to fading supersoft tyres. Close behind was Sutil’s teammate Paul di Resta. Rounding out the top 10 were Romain Grosjean (Lotus) and Jenson Button (McLaren).

Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) retired from the race on lap 39 with a suspected broken exhaust. The only positive for him being that teammate Jean-Eric Vergne finished out of the points in P12.

After the wet weather we had yesterday and this morning the race was dry for the most part with only a few light drops falling at various stages. Prior to the race the general consensus was the Red Bulls would be the cars to beat if the conditions were dry, yet the results told a different story and show that we are facing a very open start to the 2013 season.

It’s Raikkonen’s second Australian Grand Prix win, joining his 2007 success. For Lotus, it’s the first time since 1978 (in a former life) they have won the opening race of the year. In 2007 Kimi won the drivers’ championship and in 1978 Lotus won the constructors’ title; a new omen for both perhaps?

Formula 1 backs up at Sepang next weekend for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

2013 Australian Grand Prix final placings

1. Kimi Räikkönen Lotus – 58 Laps (25pts)
2. Fernando Alonso Ferrari – +12.4 (18pts)
3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing – +22.3 (15pts)
4. Felipe Massa Ferrari – +33.5 (12pts)
5. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes AMG – +45.5 (10pts)
6. Mark Webber Red Bull Racing – +46.8 (8pts)
7. Adrian Sutil Force India – +65.0 (6pts)
8. Paul di Resta Force India – 58 +68.4 (4pts)
9. Jenson Button McLaren – +81.6 (2pts)
10. Romain Grosjean Lotus – 82.7 (1pt)
11. Sergio Perez McLaren – +83.3
12. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso – +83.8
13. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber – +1 Lap
14. Valtteri Bottas Williams – +1 Lap
15. Jules Bianchi Marussia – +1 Lap
16. Charles Pic Caterham – +2 Laps
17. Max Chilton Marussia – +2 Laps
18. Giedo van der Garde Caterham – +2 Laps

Retired/not classified
Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso – +19 Laps
Nico Rosberg Mercedes AMG – +32 Laps
Pastor Maldonado Williams – +34 Laps
Nico Hulkenberg Sauber – DNS

Fastest Lap
Kimi Raikkonen Lotus – 1:29.274 (Lap 56)

2013 F1 world championship – Drivers

1. Kimi Räikkönen – 25pts
2. Fernando Alonso – 18pts
3. Sebastian Vettel – 15pts
4. Felipe Massa – 12pts
5. Lewis Hamilton – 10pts
6. Mark Webber – 8pts
7. Adrian Sutil – 6pts
8. Paul di Resta – 4pts
9. Jenson Button – 2pts
10. Romain Grosjean – 1pt

2013 F1 world championship – Constructors

1. Ferrari – 30pts
2. Lotus-Renault – 26pts
3. Red Bull-Renault – 23pts
4. Mercedes – 10pts
5. Force India-Mercedes – 10pts
6. McLaren-Mercedes – 2pts