Australian Grand Prix 2017 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Sebastian Vettel delivered Ferrari's first opening-round victory since 2010, converting a strong starting position into victory at the Australian Grand Prix. The German driver executed a perfect strategy to jump pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton during the pit stop phase, then controlled the race to the checkered flag in a statement of intent for Ferrari's championship challenge.

Hamilton started from pole position for Mercedes but lost the lead to Vettel through superior tire strategy and pit stop timing. Ferrari's aggressive undercut caught Mercedes off guard, with Vettel emerging from the pits ahead of Hamilton and never relinquishing the position. Valtteri Bottas, making his Mercedes debut after replacing retired World Champion Nico Rosberg, completed the podium in third place. Kimi Raikkonen set the fastest lap for Ferrari, underlining the Italian team's strong pace.

The result marked a changing of the guard after three years of Mercedes dominance in the hybrid era. The new wider cars with increased downforce suited Ferrari's design philosophy, and Vettel's victory sent shockwaves through the paddock. The SF70H appeared to be a genuine challenger to Mercedes' W08, setting up what promised to be the most competitive championship battle since 2014. For Hamilton, it was a disappointing start to his title defense, finishing 10 seconds behind Vettel despite securing pole position.