Vettel: "We Got Lucky"

He is top of the world drivers championship after race one for the second year in a row.

Sebastian Vettel may have won the Australian Grand Prix but he is under no illusions that the result was on the cards prior to the virtual safety car.

Deployed to recover the Haas of Romain Grosjean, Ferrari took the opportunity to pit Vettel who was running a longer first stint than Lewis Hamilton and teammate Kimi Raikkonen. Due to the drivers on the circuit having to maintain a speed limit set to a delta time, Vettel didn't lose as much time in the pits as he would have under normal racing conditions and rejoined a few car lengths ahead of Hamilton, to the disbelief of the Brit.

Vettel was quick to admit that luck had played its part in his victory but underlined the importance of the win for the momentum of the season.

"We got a bit lucky. I was praying for a Safety Car and when I got out ahead I knew it was difficult to pass. He kept the pressure on, especially the beginning of the last stint, but the last five laps I could enjoy a little bit more.

"My start I was hoping to be better so I had to settle for third. I lost a bit of the connection to Lewis and Kimi at the start, I was struggling with my tyres and was praying for a safety car.

"We're not yet where we want to be but it gives us a good start and fresh motivation for the coming weeks."

Hamilton, obviously frustrated that a win had seemingly been snatched away from him, had asked the team if it was his mistake at the time, but Mercedes says it was a "computer bug" that cost the reigning champion the victory.

"I don't understand what's happened. I did everything I believe I was supposed to do. The safety car came out and I was coming down the straight and then really last minute I was told the Ferrari was coming out. I didn't know it was in but I thought I had the delta.

"I was keen to recover from whether it was a mistake or not and I was risking it all but eventually I had to make the sensible choice there is a long way in the championship and it is not all won in one race."

Vettel will lead the championship going into round two for the second year in a row but will be hoping unlike last year, he and not Hamilton can secure the victory.