2013 AUSTRALIAN GP: KIMI RAIKKONEN WITH FIRST SEASON WIN - FORMULA 1

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Sunday, March 17, 2013

2013 AUSTRALIAN GP: KIMI RAIKKONEN WITH FIRST SEASON WIN

Kimi knows what to do!!!
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen won the Australian Grand Prix using a two-stop strategy, having started the race on the P Zero Red supersoft tyre and then completing two stints on the P Zero White medium tyre. His tyre strategy gave him a decisive advantage over all his rivals, with the remainder of the top six all adopting a three-stop strategy.

Raikkonen's long second stint was the key to his race as he kept in touch with Sebastian Vettel and the two Ferraris, who led the race early on. Raikkonen remained out on track preserving his tyres as the cars around him adopted three-stop strategies, while Alonso managed to shuffle his way ahead of team-mate Felipe Massa and Vettel.

Massa faded in fourth after a very strong first half of the race. Hamilton was next up, having had to abandon his intended two-stop strategy and pit for a third time. Webber made a quiet recovery to sixth, just behind Hamilton, whose team-mate Nico Rosberg retired with electrical problems.Jenson Button finished ninth for McLaren, while Romain Grosjean completed the points list.
The Australian Grand Prix, Albert Park, Melbourne
58 laps, 307.574km., Weather: Cloudy.

Classified:
 P.    DRIVER              TEAM           TIME      
 1.  Kimi Raikkonen       Lotus          1h30m03.225
 2.  Fernando Alonso      Ferrari         +   12.451
 3.  Sebastian Vettel     Red Bull        +   22.346
 4.  Felipe Massa         Ferrari         +   33.577
 5.  Lewis Hamilton       Mercedes AMG    +   45.561
 6.  Mark Webber          Red Bull        +   46.800
 7.  Adrian Sutil         Force India     + 1:05.068
 8.  Paul di Resta        Force India     + 1:08.449
 9.  Jenson Button        McLaren         + 1:21.630
10.  Romain Grosjean      Lotus           + 1:22.759
11.  Sergio Perez         McLaren         + 1:23.367
12.  Jean-Eric Vergne     Toro Rosso      + 1:23.857
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

Fastest lap: Kimi Raikkonen - 1:29.274              

Not classified:
Driver            Team        On lap                
Daniel Ricciardo  Toro Rosso    40
Nico Rosberg      Mercedes      26
Pastor Maldonado  Williams      25
Nico Hulkenberg   Sauber         1

After first race:                
 Drivers:                   Constructors:           
 1. Kimi Raikkonen     25   1. Ferrari        30
 2. Fernando Alonso    18   2. Lotus          26
 3. Sebastian Vettel   15   3. Red Bull       23
 4. Felipe Massa       12   4. Mercedes AMG   10
 5. Hamilton           10   5. Force India    10
 6. Mark Webber         8   6. McLaren         2
 7. Adrian Sutil        6       
 8. Paul Di Resta       4       
 9. Jenson Button       2       
10. Romain Grosjean     1