Formula One: Raikkonen wins season-opening Australian Grand Prix
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Lotus Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland celebrates after winning the Australian F1 Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, on March 17, 2013. Raikkonen drove a brilliant race to win the Australian Grand Prix for Lotus on Sunday as the new Formula One season opened with an absolute thriller at Albert Park. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland (centre) celebrates on the podium after beating Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain (left) and Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (right) to win the Formula One Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, on March 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland gestures as he takes a victory lap after winning the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, on March 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland (centre) is sprayed with champagne after victory next to second placed Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain (left) and third placed Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany on the podium after the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, on March 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland lifts his arms after victory in the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, on March 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Lotus Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland in his car during the Formula One Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, on March 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Lotus Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland celebrates after winning the Australian F1 Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, on March 17, 2013. Raikkonen drove a brilliant race to win the Australian Grand Prix for Lotus on Sunday as the new Formula One season opened with an absolute thriller at Albert Park. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland (centre) celebrates on the podium after beating Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain (left) and Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany (right) to win the Formula One Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, on March 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland gestures as he takes a victory lap after winning the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, on March 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland (centre) is sprayed with champagne after victory next to second placed Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso of Spain (left) and third placed Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany on the podium after the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, on March 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland lifts his arms after victory in the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, on March 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP
Lotus Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland in his car during the Formula One Australian Grand Prix at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, on March 17, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
MELBOURNE (REUTERS) - Kimi Raikkonen drove a brilliant race to win the Australian Grand Prix for Lotus on Sunday as the new Formula One season opened with an absolute thriller at Albert Park.
Finland's 2007 world champion rode to victory on a two-stop strategy and crossed the line 12.4 seconds clear of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso with triple world champion Sebastian Vettel rounding out the podium in third place for Red Bull.
Seven cars led the race at one stage or another but after Raikkonen hit the front for the second time on lap 43, it looked like only a mechanical problem would stop him from winning his 20th grand prix to match compatriot Mika Hakkinen's career tally.
"I knew I had a good car so I was confident we could have a good race," said Raikkonen, the former McLaren and Ferrari driver who made his comeback last season after two years in rallying, on a podium of champions.
