Like its predecessor, the F1 W06 Hybrid started the season strongly. Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the season-opening , ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg. Hamilton and Rosberg moved clear of the field at the start of the race, and ultimately recorded a 1–2 finish, over half a minute clear of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, who finished in third place. Hamilton took pole again at the while Rosberg qualified third, as Vettel broke Mercedes's run of 9 consecutive front-row lockouts – dating back to 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix – by taking second place in the rain affected qualifying session. Mercedes finished the race with both cars on the podium, behind Vettel therefore allowing him to close to within three points of Hamilton in the drivers' standings after two rounds. The two Mercedes cars once again locked out the front row at the , and again ultimately recorded a 1–2 finish, this also gave Hamilton his second hat-trick of pole position, fastest lap and race win, from the first three races of the season.