Nico Rosberg won the opening race of this year's Formula 1 season in Australia yesterday. TV commentators spoke of "fascination throughout the field" as big names retired and new names proved themselves. Nico Rosberg, who won yesterday's race, pictured practicing last year. Former champion  qualified on pole but problems were evident by the second lap when he received a team radio message telling him "we need to retire... save the engine, save the engine!" Another followed rapidly, however, telling him to "just stay out, stay out, just keep on rolling". Hamilton left the race on the fourth lap. Vettel and Hamilton were not the only stars retiring early. Veteran racer was rammed from behind by  's , sending both cars out and prompting deployment of for several laps while the debris was recovered. The crash was triggered by Kobiashi clipping , damaging the front of Kobiashi's car. Raikkonen stayed in the race and managed to finish eighth. The first ten cars over the finish line score points towards both the driver's and constructor's championships. Many drivers, including cars at the front of the pack, took advantage of the safety car period to do pit stops. Some are now considering using less fuel than the maximum allowance in a move the never expected technologically possible when drafting the rules several years ago. An overview of the road around Albert Park, used for the race It was a day for débutantes at , a street circuit where racing took place in close proximity to busy public roads. Newcomer  scored third place on his first F1 race, while fellow rookie  came in tenth and became the youngest-ever F1 points scorer. Kvyat takes the record from Vettel by several months while Magnussen becomes the first Dane on an F1 podium. Not every débutante was so lucky; Caterham driver dropped out of his first race after being radioed "Stop the car, stop the car, engine oil pressure". Established racers and , both drivers, also stopped with technical trouble. All three cars pulled up at the side of the track on different laps, each triggering yellow flags. Despite the retirements, fourteen cars finished which was more than some commentators were expecting. The race was unusual from start to finish, having been shortened by one lap after the first start was aborted by amber lights instead of just green. The end is more controversial; home driver  scored his first-ever podium finish in second place but was later disqualified for an alleged breach of fuel regulations. Ricciardo had been the first Australian driver to stand on the podium in his home country since Formula 1 brought the event into the championship format used today. 2011 portrait of Ricciardo, who came second only to be disqualified. His disqualification is not final, however. His team, Red Bull, have vowed to appeal. If the appeal fails all the drivers below him move up one position, meaning first-time entrant Magnussen will have come in second place and Kvyat will be ninth. That would see  score a point for Force India by moving into tenth. Perez's race was hampered early by a puncture picked up in the opening lap. Prior to Ricciardo's disqualification, the remaining point-scorers were in fourth, in fifth,  in seventh, and in ninth.
Nico Rosberg won the opening race of this year's Formula 1 season in Australia yesterday. TV commentators spoke of "fascination throughout the field" as big names retired and new names proved themselves. Nico Rosberg, who won yesterday's race, pictured practicing last year. Former champion Lewis Hamilton qualified on pole but problems were evident by the second lap when he received a team radio message telling him "we need to retire... save the engine, save the engine!" Another followed rapidly, however, telling him to "just stay out, stay out, just keep on rolling". Hamilton left the race on the fourth lap. Vettel and Hamilton were not the only stars retiring early. Veteran racer was rammed from behind by Kobiashi 's , sending both cars out and prompting deployment of for several laps while the debris was recovered. The crash was triggered by Kobiashi clipping , damaging the front of Kobiashi's car. Raikkonen stayed in the race and managed to finish eighth. The first ten cars over the finish line score points towards both the driver's and constructor's championships. Many drivers, including cars at the front of the pack, took advantage of the safety car period to do pit stops. Some are now considering using less fuel than the maximum allowance in a move the never expected technologically possible when drafting the rules several years ago. An overview of the road around Albert Park, used for the race It was a day for débutantes at , a street circuit where racing took place in close proximity to busy public roads. Newcomer Kevin Magnussen scored third place on his first F1 race, while fellow rookie Daniil Kvyat came in tenth and became the youngest-ever F1 points scorer. Kvyat takes the record from Vettel by several months while Magnussen becomes the first Dane on an F1 podium. Not every débutante was so lucky; Caterham driver dropped out of his first race after being radioed "Stop the car, stop the car, engine oil pressure". Established racers Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean , both drivers, also stopped with technical trouble. All three cars pulled up at the side of the track on different laps, each triggering yellow flags. Despite the retirements, fourteen cars finished which was more than some commentators were expecting. The race was unusual from start to finish, having been shortened by one lap after the first start was aborted by amber lights instead of just green. The end is more controversial; home driver Daniel Ricciardo scored his first-ever podium finish in second place but was later disqualified for an alleged breach of fuel regulations. Ricciardo had been the first Australian driver to stand on the podium in his home country since Formula 1 brought the event into the championship format used today. 2011 portrait of Ricciardo, who came second only to be disqualified. His disqualification is not final, however. His team, Red Bull, have vowed to appeal. If the appeal fails all the drivers below him move up one position, meaning first-time entrant Magnussen will have come in second place and Kvyat will be ninth. That would see Sergio Perez score a point for Force India by moving into tenth. Perez's race was hampered early by a puncture picked up in the opening lap. Prior to Ricciardo's disqualification, the remaining point-scorers were in fourth, in fifth, Nico Hulkenberg in seventh, and in ninth.
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Lewis Hamilton
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Kobiashi
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Kevin Magnussen
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Daniil Kvyat
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Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean
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Daniel Ricciardo
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Sergio Perez
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Nico Hulkenberg