Australian Grand Prix 2013 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Kimi Raikkonen delivered a stunning season-opening victory for Lotus, holding off Fernando Alonso's Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull in a thrilling race at Albert Park. Starting from third on the grid after Vettel claimed pole position, Raikkonen executed a perfect tire management strategy that allowed him to control the race in the closing stages. The Finn's victory was particularly impressive given his aggressive attacking drive through the field and his ability to make his tires last longer than his rivals.

The race provided an intriguing glimpse of what appeared to be a competitive season ahead, with three different teams on the podium. Alonso demonstrated Ferrari's improved form by challenging Raikkonen throughout, while Vettel recovered from early-race struggles to secure third place. Lewis Hamilton's race for Mercedes ended in disappointment with a collision, while the battle for fourth saw multiple position changes as teams grappled with Pirelli's challenging tire compounds.

Raikkonen's victory marked a perfect return to form for the 2007 World Champion and signaled Lotus's emergence as genuine race winners. The result established Raikkonen as an early championship leader and suggested the 2013 season might offer closer competition than Red Bull's recent dominance had implied, though this hope would ultimately prove fleeting as the year progressed.