It was only one race but the nature of Sebastian Vettel’s victory on Sunday in the Australian Formula One Grand Prix suggests that three years of Mercedes domination may be over.
The outcome raised hopes of a genuine title tussle between the two dominant Formula One drivers of the past decade. The first Ferrari victory since 2015 made Vettel, a four-times world champion with Red Bull, the only non-Mercedes driver to have led the standings since the V6 turbo hybrid power units were introduced in 2014.
Over the past three years, triple world champion Hamilton has had only his teammate, the now-retired 2016 title winner Nico Rosberg, and reliability to worry about with Mercedes winning 51 of 59 races up to Melbourne.
If Hamilton, winner of 10 races last year, was disappointed not to make a winning start to the campaign, the Briton also sounded enthused by the new challenge.
“You are seeing the best against the best,” he told reporters. “I am really grateful to have that fight with him (Vettel),” continued the 32-year-old, who won his first title with McLaren in 2008. “Finally we can have an actual race. It’s going to be close... it’s great to see Ferrari there.”
Hamilton will get a quick chance to turn the tables on Vettel when the teams meet again in China. The Shanghai International Circuit will see harder tyres and longer straights, a combination that usually suits Mercedes. Hamilton is relishing the prospect of the two dominant drivers of the last decade, with seven world championships between them, going head to head for the title.
The German’s Ferrari was able to keep pace comfortably with leader Lewis Hamilton in the early stages in Melbourne. “He was relatively close,” Hamilton said. “And if the roles were reversed and he was ahead he probably would have pulled away.”
Once Vettel got in front after the pit stops the result was never in doubt. Significantly, it seems the improved Ferrari engine now matches the power of the Mercedes. “Right now, it looks like we have equal machinery. I hope it turns out that way,” said Vettel.
Hamilton said after pre-season testing that the 2017 rule changes – more downforce, fatter tyres with more grip and faster cars – would make it harder to race. He saw no reason to change his mind after Melbourne, saying that the increased turbulence from the car in front makes overtaking more difficult. Between them, Hamilton and Vettel have won seven of the last nine championships. Only Britain’s Jenson Button, in 2009, and Germany’s Rosberg last season interrupted their success.
But they have yet to race each other as main contenders for the crown, Red Bull and Ferrari waning as Mercedes entered an era of engine domination just as McLaren had faded away previously.
Vettel, who joined Ferrari in 2015 after four successive titles with Red Bull, has 43 career wins to Hamilton’s 53 and is well placed to close the gap.
It all points to a thrilling season ahead.
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