Lewis Hamilton has claimed that he was always in control to keep Nico Rosberg at bay as the reigning world champion cruised to win Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.
Sitting on pole at the Albert Park Circuit, the Briton enjoyed a strong getaway off the line and stayed in front of the field for almost the entire afternoon.
Indeed, Hamilton only relinquished the lead to Rosberg when he stopped one lap earlier than his Mercedes team-mate.
Although the two-time world champion never came under intense pressure from last year’s Melbourne victor, the gap between both W06 Hybrids kept oscillating between 1.5 and 3.5s during the Grand Prix.
However, Hamilton explained that he was just shadowing Rosberg’s pace and could have upped his game in order to fend off any potential challenge from the 2014 runner-up.
“Nico was really quick throughout the race,” said Hamilton. “And it was really trying to manage the fuel and the tyres not knowing where the limit is in terms of how far they can go.
“Once you get a two-second lap to try to manage that there is no need to eke out more. When Nico turned up the heat I was able to react, which was good. Otherwise it was a phenomenal race for both of us.”
Click here for the full gallery from the Australian Grand Prix
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Formula 1 is gearing up for a new digital era in the United States –…
Carlos Sainz has lifted the lid on a private paddock conversation he enjoyed with Fernando…
Christian Horner has offered a revealing look back at his dramatic exit from Red Bull…
Alain Prost follows Niki Lauda by just two days on the February birthday calendar, the…
Sergio Perez’s Formula 1 comeback with Cadillac is already under the microscope – and he…
After pre-season testing in Bahrain gave F1’s drivers their first real taste of the sport’s…