Race Report: 2019 Australian Grand Prix

The 2019 F1 season has kicked off and with the Australian GP completed, many teams and drivers are feeling lucky, while some disappointed, with their end results.

The race started well, with Valtteri Bottas quickly taking the lead from Lewis, who started on pole, remained in P1 through-out the race. While on the other hand, the rest of the field were fighting closely for their respective positions.

Not so much luck for the home boy, as Daniel Ricciardo suddenly suffered front wing damage by driving on the tall grass on the start of the race. Then tumbling along after 28 laps, the Australian retired after a disappointing debut for Renualt.

Another Renault-powered victim was Carlos Sainz, who again had a frustrating debut for the British team McLaren. Soon after 9 laps, the Spaniard suffered an MGU-K failure and sets his MCL34 ablaze. Fortunately, he parked his car right next to the pit lane entry and safely got out from the car.

And the last driver to face yet another season opener DNF was Romain Grosjean, who coincidently suffered the same mistake from the last season's Australian GP. The team improperly inserted the left front tire and it was Deja Vú all over again. Just after Daniel's retirement, the front left tire soon started to come off forcing the Frenchman to pull over and his end race after 29 laps.

Not so unfortunate was Kevin Magnusen, who finished a well P6 for the American team. The Dennish fought his way with the drivers of Racing Point, Toro Rosso and the McLaren, but his timely pit stop and the charge through the end was a reward worth waiting for.

Rookie drivers Alexander Albon, Antonio Giovinazzi and Lando Norris all raced till the end, with the Alfa Romeo and the McLaren driver fighting hard for the P11, and because of the pressure from the Britian, Antonio lost his place mid race and gave Lando, although taking some laps, the P10 at the very end. Unluckily his stratergy didn't play on his side, and Lando despite qualifying an impressive P8, finished P12 on his first ever F1 race.

William's start have not shown any signs of improvement over the last few seasons, the new line up of Goerge Russel and Robert Kubica are suffering from the ill-fated FW42, reffering to how they have a 'fundamental problem' costed them any points for the day's race. Both drivers ended up last on the standings with P16 and P17 for Goerge and Robert respectively.

Moving on with the Red Bull drivers, Max made an impressive drive with his Honda powered Red Bull and was able to challenge Lewis till the very end of the race. Just seperated by a second, Max was on charge till the chequered flag waved ending him in P3, a solid result from the Dutchman.

Pierre Gasly was not so fortunate ending P10 in the race, and also being challenged by the sister team of Toro Rosso, with Danil Kvyat putting a run for his money. However both Honda powered teams finished in top 10 giving the sign that the Japanese engine is working at its fullest.

But the highlight of the race is definitely Valtteri Bottas winning the Australian GP, with not a single race win in the 2018 season has left him scarce for a victory and the result was well deserved. With a race win, fastest lap and Lewis coming some 20 seconds later for P2 shows the Finnish driver now means business. Ferrari however weren't quite expecting the results with Sebastian and the new debutant Charles coming P4 and P5 respectively. The Monagasque though was slowly catching up to Sebastian until chequered flag was waved.

And with this, these were the highlights, the race result is mentioned below: