In the end, the Australian Grand Prix didn’t turn into the Red Bull dominated affair that many feared after being the runaway stars of Sunday’s delayed qualifying shoot-out. Kimi Raikkonen and Lotus F1 took firm control of the race while Ferrari possibly should have had both drivers ahead of Sebastian Vettel rather than just Fernando Alonso. But what does this mean for the season ahead?

The first race of the season and Pirelli’s latest development of its tyre compounds held up better than some forecast, delivering the mix of two and three-stop strategies that the Italian manufacturer promised. Kimi Raikkonen’s victory owed much to the preservation power of the Lotus as his nearest rivals couldn’t compete with his two-stop run to the chequered flag.

Jenson Button claimed his third victory in the Australian Grand Prix with an assured drive after a better start handed him the lead. Sebastian Vettel recovered from Red Bull’s relatively poor qualifying session to take second after luck shone on the defending champion in the form of a perfectly timed safety car handing him the chance to leapfrog Lewis Hamilton.

It was all about one team in qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix but it wasn’t the team that many tipped. Instead, McLaren dominated proceedings as Lewis Hamilton pipped team mate Jenson Button with a 1 minute 24.922 as the Woking-based outfit secured the front row. Romain Grosjean impressed for Lotus by going third fastest ahead of Michael Schumacher while Ferrari failed to make it through to Q3.

The season got underway under damp conditions in Melbourne, meaning it’s still anyone guess as to where anyone is in the overall pecking order. McLaren went quickest in the first session, Jenson Button pipping his team mate as the track quickly dried out. Just behind them was the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher who set the fastest lap of a wet second free practice with a late lap as the track began to dry.

One of the most popular venues on the grand prix calendar, Melbourne has it all: Its climate is sunny but refreshing, it’s right on the beach; its population is cosmopolitan and laid back; it’s the cultural hub of Australia, has some truly great cocktail bars and restaurants; and the whole city is sports mad.