Dashed were the hopes of all Ferarri fans as Hamilton won the first Grand Prix of the season. Having qualified on pole, Hamilton led for the majority of the 58-lap race around Albert Park before crossing the line 5.4 seconds ahead of Nick Heidfeld’s BMW Sauber with Williams driver Nico Rosberg back in third as only seven cars made it to the finish. But while McLaren were celebrating, it was a disastrous weekend for rivals Ferrari as both Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa retired with engine failures, although the former did subsequently gain a solitary point after Rubens Barrichello’s Honda was disqualified for a pitlane infraction.

Team principal Ron Dennis hailed Lewis Hamilton’s performance as “faultless” after the McLaren driver produced a dominant performance to take the opening grand prix of the season in Melbourne.

Elsewhere there was a bit of a tussle between David Coulthard and Filipe Massa. A defiant Felipe Massa has insisted he will not be apologizing to David Coulthard after a coming together between the pair resulted in the Scot crashing out of the Australian Grand Prix.

Massa’s Ferrari collided with Coulthard when the Brazilian tried to pass the Red Bull driver up the inside of Turn One, heavily damaging the 36-year-old’s car and ending his race after just 26 laps and bringing out the second safety car of the afternoon.

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