ZAVibes

For those of you who got up to see the Australian Grand Prix, it was more than worth the effort as one of the most exciting, chaotic and incident-filled races in recent memory kicked off the 2008 Formula One season - oh and Lewis Hamilton won it.

The young Britain in the McLaren Mercedes kept his head while all around him others lost theirs in the first race of the new era in Formula One in which traction control and other drivers aids have been banished.

Hamilton drove a mature and controlled race surviving three safety car periods, as one car after another fell by the wayside. After a catalogue of dramatic crashes only seven cars made it across the finish line with Hamilton leading Nick Heidfeld in the BMW Sauber and Nico Rosberg in the Williams across the line.

Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso was a creditable fourth for Renault while Hamilton’s team-mate Heikki Kovalainen was fifth after superb opening drive in his new team and a great battle with Alonso in the closing stages.

Among the most dramatic incidents was a spectacular smash for David Coulthard in the Red Bull after a coming together with Felipe Massa of Ferrari, a huge shunt for Timo Glock in the Toyota which saw his car spinning across the track, and a dangerous incident in the pitlane for Rubens Barrichello in the Honda who drove away while the fuel hose was still attached. Fortunately no one was injured.

The race, which took place in punishing heat, proved a terrible start for Ferrari with neither of their cars finishing. World champion Kimi Raikkonen eventually retired after an incident-strewn race which saw him climb at one stage from 16th to as high as second.

For Hamilton, his second season in Formula One could hardly have got off to a better start.

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