<p align="left">Valtteri Bottas capitalised on a late pitstop to upset his world champion team mate Lewis Hamilton and clinch the season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix for Mercedes in Melbourne on Sunday.</p>.<p>Starting second behind pole-sitter Hamilton, Bottas got the jump on the Briton during a typically messy start at Albert Park and ended up cruising to his fourth win by some 20.80 seconds after delaying a tyre-change.</p>.<p>Runner-up Hamilton, who switched to the medium compound tyres seven laps earlier than Bottas, had to battle to hold off third-placed Max Verstappen and was fortunate that the Red Bull driver took a skid in the grass later on to lose vital seconds.</p>.<p>Bottas, who claimed his first race win since Abu Dhabi in 2017, added icing to the cake by clinching a bonus point for the fastest lap at the lakeside circuit in one minute 25.580 seconds.</p>.<p>"I don't know what just happened. The start was really good, it was definitely my best race ever," said the Finn.</p>.<p>"I just felt so good and everything was under control. The car was so good today so truly enjoyable, I need to enjoy today.</p>.<p>"I'm just so happy and can't wait for the next race."</p>.<p>While Hamilton was forced to sweat, the Silver Arrows will have been thrilled that their raw pace was enough to blitz the chasing pack.</p>.<p>"It was a good weekend for the team," said Hamilton. "Valtteri drove an incredible race today so he deserved it."</p>.<p>For Ferrari, however, it was a sobering day as fourth-placed Vettel and fifth-placed new boy Charles Leclerc were reduced to fighting each other for a minor position.</p>.<p>In the midfield battle, Kevin Magnussen was sixth for Haas ahead of Renault's seventh-placed Nico Hulkenberg.</p>.<p>It was a disastrous Renault debut for home hope Daniel Ricciardo as he rolled wide into the grass straight out of the grid and destroyed his front wing over a bump.</p>.<p>He was forced to pit immediately to replace it and ended up retiring midway through the race.</p>.<p>McLaren driver Carlos Sainz also retired after easing into the pit lane on the 11th lap with his car on fire.</p>.<p>Haas, who lost both cars due to botched tyre changes in last year's race, showed they were not free of their pit-stop gremlins, as a poor stop caused Romain Grosjean to lose two places.</p>.<p>Grosjean later was forced to retire with a reliability problem.</p>.<p>Prior to the start, drivers and officials stood for a minute's silence at the grid in tribute to the late F1 racing director Charlie Whiting and in remembrance of victims of a mass shooting at two mosques in New Zealand on Friday.</p>.<p><span><strong>Australian Grand Prix results:</strong></span></p>.<p>1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/ Mercedes) 308 Km in 1hr 25min 27.325sec</p>.<p>2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/ Mercedes) at 20.886 sec</p>.<p>3. Max Verstappen (NED/ Red Bull) at 22.520 sec</p>.<p>4. Sebastian Vettel (GER/ Ferrari) at 57.109 sec</p>.<p>5. Charles Leclerc (MON/ Ferrari) at 58.230 sec</p>.<p>6. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/ Haas) at 1:27.156 sec</p>.<p>7. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/ Renault) at 1 lap</p>.<p>8. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/ Alfa Romeo) at 1 lap</p>.<p>9. Lance Stroll (CAN/ Racing Point) at 1 lap</p>.<p>10. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/ Toro Rosso) at 1 lap</p>.<p>11. Pierre Gasly (FRA/ Red Bull) at 1 lap</p>.<p>12. Lando Norris (GBR/ McLaren) at 1 lap</p>.<p>13. Sergio Perez (MEX/ Racing Point) at 1 lap</p>.<p>14. Alexander Albon (THA/ Toro Rosso) at 1 lap</p>.<p>15. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/ Alfa Romeo) at 1 lap</p>.<p>16. George Russell (GBR/ Williams) at 2 laps</p>.<p>17. Robert Kubica (POL/ Williams) at 3 laps</p>.<p><span><strong>Retirements:</strong></span></p>.<p>10th lap: Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/ McLaren) engine</p>.<p>30th lap: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/ Renault) mechanical problem</p>.<p>30th lap: Romain Grosjean (FRA/ Haas) mechanical problem</p>
<p align="left">Valtteri Bottas capitalised on a late pitstop to upset his world champion team mate Lewis Hamilton and clinch the season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix for Mercedes in Melbourne on Sunday.</p>.<p>Starting second behind pole-sitter Hamilton, Bottas got the jump on the Briton during a typically messy start at Albert Park and ended up cruising to his fourth win by some 20.80 seconds after delaying a tyre-change.</p>.<p>Runner-up Hamilton, who switched to the medium compound tyres seven laps earlier than Bottas, had to battle to hold off third-placed Max Verstappen and was fortunate that the Red Bull driver took a skid in the grass later on to lose vital seconds.</p>.<p>Bottas, who claimed his first race win since Abu Dhabi in 2017, added icing to the cake by clinching a bonus point for the fastest lap at the lakeside circuit in one minute 25.580 seconds.</p>.<p>"I don't know what just happened. The start was really good, it was definitely my best race ever," said the Finn.</p>.<p>"I just felt so good and everything was under control. The car was so good today so truly enjoyable, I need to enjoy today.</p>.<p>"I'm just so happy and can't wait for the next race."</p>.<p>While Hamilton was forced to sweat, the Silver Arrows will have been thrilled that their raw pace was enough to blitz the chasing pack.</p>.<p>"It was a good weekend for the team," said Hamilton. "Valtteri drove an incredible race today so he deserved it."</p>.<p>For Ferrari, however, it was a sobering day as fourth-placed Vettel and fifth-placed new boy Charles Leclerc were reduced to fighting each other for a minor position.</p>.<p>In the midfield battle, Kevin Magnussen was sixth for Haas ahead of Renault's seventh-placed Nico Hulkenberg.</p>.<p>It was a disastrous Renault debut for home hope Daniel Ricciardo as he rolled wide into the grass straight out of the grid and destroyed his front wing over a bump.</p>.<p>He was forced to pit immediately to replace it and ended up retiring midway through the race.</p>.<p>McLaren driver Carlos Sainz also retired after easing into the pit lane on the 11th lap with his car on fire.</p>.<p>Haas, who lost both cars due to botched tyre changes in last year's race, showed they were not free of their pit-stop gremlins, as a poor stop caused Romain Grosjean to lose two places.</p>.<p>Grosjean later was forced to retire with a reliability problem.</p>.<p>Prior to the start, drivers and officials stood for a minute's silence at the grid in tribute to the late F1 racing director Charlie Whiting and in remembrance of victims of a mass shooting at two mosques in New Zealand on Friday.</p>.<p><span><strong>Australian Grand Prix results:</strong></span></p>.<p>1. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/ Mercedes) 308 Km in 1hr 25min 27.325sec</p>.<p>2. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/ Mercedes) at 20.886 sec</p>.<p>3. Max Verstappen (NED/ Red Bull) at 22.520 sec</p>.<p>4. Sebastian Vettel (GER/ Ferrari) at 57.109 sec</p>.<p>5. Charles Leclerc (MON/ Ferrari) at 58.230 sec</p>.<p>6. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/ Haas) at 1:27.156 sec</p>.<p>7. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/ Renault) at 1 lap</p>.<p>8. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/ Alfa Romeo) at 1 lap</p>.<p>9. Lance Stroll (CAN/ Racing Point) at 1 lap</p>.<p>10. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/ Toro Rosso) at 1 lap</p>.<p>11. Pierre Gasly (FRA/ Red Bull) at 1 lap</p>.<p>12. Lando Norris (GBR/ McLaren) at 1 lap</p>.<p>13. Sergio Perez (MEX/ Racing Point) at 1 lap</p>.<p>14. Alexander Albon (THA/ Toro Rosso) at 1 lap</p>.<p>15. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/ Alfa Romeo) at 1 lap</p>.<p>16. George Russell (GBR/ Williams) at 2 laps</p>.<p>17. Robert Kubica (POL/ Williams) at 3 laps</p>.<p><span><strong>Retirements:</strong></span></p>.<p>10th lap: Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/ McLaren) engine</p>.<p>30th lap: Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/ Renault) mechanical problem</p>.<p>30th lap: Romain Grosjean (FRA/ Haas) mechanical problem</p>