Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel opened his title defence by outpacing McLaren's Lewis Hamilton to win the Australian Grand Prix. Renault's Vitaly Petrov claimed his first-ever podium finish.

Red Bull-Renault driver and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel of Germany is soaked in champagne on the podium by second-placed McLaren-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain after winning Formula One's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Mercedes-McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain smokes his tyres as he leads teammate Jensen Button into a corner during Formula One's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Lotus-Renault driver Vitaly Petrov of Russia get his tyres changed during Formula One's Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. Petrov's show was impressive and would give a boost to a Renault team. "The team did everything perfectly and we should be massively proud," Petrov said.

Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany celebrates after winning Formula One's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. "Lewis didn't push so hard any more. It was not an easy race," Vettel said. "The start was crucial, I was on the clean side and I had a good getaway."

Ferrari Formula One driver Felipe Massa of Brazil gets his tyres changed during qualifying session for Formula One's Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne.

Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes driver Jenson Button of Britain races out of a corner during Formula One's Australian Grand Prix.

AT&T Williams-Cosworth driver Rubens Barrichello of Brazil races through the grass during Formula One's Australian Grand Prix.

Scuderia Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain races through a corner during Formula One's Australian Grand Prix.

Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany sprays champagne over Red Bull-Renault chief designer Rob Marshall on the podium after winning Formula One's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.