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Motorsports

15th Mar 2015

Hamilton cruises to comfortable win in season-opening Australian Grand Prix

World champion eased to victory

Gareth Makim

Arnie was there to present the trophies as the Terminators at Mercedes took up right where they left off last season

World champion Lewis Hamilton got his title defence off to the perfect start this morning as he led home a Mercedes one-two at the season opening Grand Prix.

The Englishman started on pole position and once he got to the first corner in front the result never looked in doubt.

Team-mate Nico Rosberg chased Hamilton hard throughout but was never really in a position to challenge and eventually crossed the line a mere 1.3seconds behind.

Schwarzenegger had the honour of presenting the trophies to the men on the podium, and Hamilton told him: “My team did an amazing job today and it’s an incredible feeling to win and also to be here with you, man. I thought you were taller!”

Mercedes were once again vastly superior to their rivals, and on the basis of this display at Albert Park, look set to continue the dominance that saw them run away with last year’s championship.

Sebastian Vettel was best of the rest on his Ferrari debut, but finished more than half a minute behind the Mercedes pair, while Brazilian pair Felipe Massa (Williams) and Felipe Nasr (Sauber) were the only other drivers to finish on the same lap.