First blood to Vettel as Hamilton has day to forget

Sebastian Vettel won a thrilling duel with world champion Lewis Hamilton to steal the season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday.

The four-time world champion got the jump on the Mercedes ace off a miscalculation on a pit stop under Virtual Safety Car (VSC) conditions and held off Hamilton for his second straight win in Melbourne and third overall.

Vettel's Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen resisted a challenge from Australian Red Bull racer Daniel Ricciardo to take third.