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Monday, March 17, 2014

They're back ! Rosberg grabs the win in Australia as F1 enters a new era....

First race of the season, Melbourne meant Nico Rosberg's victory, who took advantage of the early problems Hamilton and Vettel had, and also of Alonso or Raikkonen slowness. An absolutely fantastic debut in F1 Kevin Magnussen, who became the first Dane to get on the podium.

From 2008 onwards, the Australian Grand Prix , which marks the start of a new season , has been won each time by a heavy name in Formula 1: Button (2012 , 2009) , Raikkonen (2013 ) , Vettel (2011 ) , Alonso (2010 ) , Hamilton (2008 ). Rosberg was missing from this list; and Webber  since he retired.

Nico Rosberg was not the big favorite in Australia, but Lewis Hamilton, his teammate at Mercedes, who obtained the pole position and which normally had the first chance. Vettel was not a problem, since the quadruple German champion was going to start from the second half of the grid.

The new engine took Hamilton out

But 2014 is the season with the most and most important changes in recent years in F1, and the new 1.6-liter V6 turbo engine has begun to topple hierarchies we are accustomed to.

Even Mercedes, the team that seemed to have discovered the secrets of these new " little engines", being regarded by specialists as big favorites in this debut season, had problems.

Lewis Hamilton had a bad start, being surpassed by Ricciardo and Rosberg.  The Brit had engine problems from the beginning! The race was over fast for him, retiring after a couple of laps. " My engine had 5 working cylinders, not 6" , explained Lewis.

Fortunately for Mercedes , Rosberg 's car held until the end and he won. The German has passed Ricciardo and Hamilton quickly and installed himself into the lead. Even the presence of the Safety Car, when all the cars regrouped, there were no problems for Rosberg. He finished over 20 seconds ahead of Ricciardo.

Ricciardo , disqualified

Australian Ricciardo finished second in Melbourne. A sensational debut for Vettel's new team mate. It was a brief joy, because Ricciardo was disqualified after his car consumed more fuel than the limit of 100 kg. Red Bull did not score in the Australian Grand Prix !

The second step of the podium went to newcomer Magnussen , a 21 years old Dane, having his debut in his McLaren. Magnussen's team mate, world champion Jenson Button, had a pretty good race. He left the grid from the 10th position , but finished in 4th place and after FIA's decision against Ricciardo, on the podium. McLaren got their smiles back after a disastrous 2013 !

Alonso and Raikkonen , nothing special

Ferrari doesn't seem to find good pace this year as well. Alonso finished the race as he began it : 5th, 4th position after Ricciardo's disqualification, while his teammate, equally famous and my favourite, Kimi Raikkonen completed a modest 7th place in the end, 6th after FIA's decision.

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