The season opener has a habit of throwing up interesting statistics, and so it proved again on Sunday…
- Nico Rosberg’s victory was his second in Melbourne, coming two years after his first and 31 years after his father Keke won the very first race on Australian soil in Adelaide. Rosberg has now won four successive races, his win streak starting in Mexico last year. Mercedes meanwhile have been victorious for seven straight races.
Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 Hybrid celebrates in parc ferme at Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Race, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday 20 March 2016. © Sutton Motorsport Images
- In finishing second, Lewis Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of six podium finishes in Australia. On Saturday the Briton joined the great German in becoming one of just three drivers (the other being Ayrton Senna) to have scored 50 or more pole positions in F1 racing.
- Romain Grosjean’s sixth place ensured Haas became the first brand-new team to score points on their Grand Prix debut since Mika Salo finished sixth for Toyota in 2002. Haas are also the first American team to score points since the similarly named (but completely unaffiliated) Team Haas finished sixth with Alan Jones at Monza in 1986. Worth noting that Grosjean only finished in the top six once last season with Lotus…
Romain Grosjean (FRA) Haas Formula 1 Team VF16 at Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Race, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday 20 March 2016. © Sutton Motorsport Images
- Daniel Ricciardo’s fourth place finish equalled the best result for an Australian driver on home soil – a tie with Mark Webber’s fourth place in 2012. Ricciardo also became just the second Australian - again after Webber - to record a fastest lap at home.
- Max Verstappen’s tenth place finish ensured he is now - at 18 - the youngest points scorer in Australian Grand Prix history. Current Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat had previously held the record for finishing ninth as a 19-year-old on his debut in 2014.
- Speaking of Daniil Kvyat, the Russian has now failed to take the start in two successive season openers in Australia because of mechanical woes.
Marshals remove the car of Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Red Bull Racing RB12 after breaking down at the start of the race at Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Race, Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday 20 March 2016. © Sutton Motorsport Images
- Three drivers finished the race in identical positions to where they finished in the same race last season: Sebastian Vettel (in third), Nico Hulkenberg (in seventh) and Carlos Sainz (in ninth).
- For the first time ever in Melbourne the first 13 drivers home finished on the lead lap – that’s the highest number in history, and a good indication of the competitive nature of the grid.
