Rosberg wins dramatic Oz GP

Melbourne – Nico Rosberg won a dramatic Australian Grand Prix for Mercedes on Sunday after Ferrari’s challenge was squandered by a bungled tyre strategy and Fernando Alonso walked away from a spectacular crash that reduced his McLaren to a mangled wreck.

Rosberg’s 15th career victory was also his fourth in succession after the German won the final three races of last season.

His team mate and pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton finished second, some eight seconds behind after recovering from a chaotic start that pushed the defending world champion back to sixth at the first turn.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel led for much of the race but his advantage was eroded by poor tyre management, especially after Alonso’s crash brought out a red flag, as his compatriot Rosberg coasted home.

“Yeah! awesome, guys, awesome. Great start to the season,” Rosberg yelled down the team radio.

New team Haas celebrated points on debut, with Frenchman Romain Grosjean finishing sixth behind Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and Williams driver Felipe Massa.

The spectacular crash left Alonso’s smashed McLaren scattered across the Albert Park circuit and brought a halt to the race.

Alonso’s right wheel clipped Esteban Gutierrez’s Haas at high speed going into turn three of the 18th lap and the impact sent the Spaniard’s McLaren careening into a barrier, smashing it to pieces, before it flipped, rolled and flew end-over-end into another barrier.

The two-time world champion emerged from the wreckage and walked gingerly over to Mexican Gutierrez where the pair embraced.

“We believe he’s OK. I’m sure his marbles are rattled a little bit,” McLaren chairman Ron Dennis told Sky Sports.

The race was suspended as track staff swept debris away, bringing the rest of the cars back to pit before it resumed at 4.55pm following a lap with the safety car.

Race control said the incident would be investigated.

Haas boss Gene Haas told Sky Sports: "It looked like Alonso was trying to overtake Esteban and just got squeezed and ran out of room and the tyres made contact and Alonso went for a hell of a ride."

Result from the F1 Australian GP at Albert Park:

1. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1:48:15.565

2. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes +00:08.060

3. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari 00:09.643

4. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Red Bull-TAG Heuer 00:24.330

5. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams-Mercedes 00:58.979

6. Romain Grosjean (France) Haas-Ferrari 01:12.081

7. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India-Mercedes 01:14.199

8. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams-Mercedes 01:15.153

9. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso-Ferrar 01:15.680

10. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 01:16.833

11. Jolyon Palmer (Britain) Renault 01:23.399