Australian grand prix - in pictures

Ah, the familiar sights of Formula One, back again after a protracted hiatus. You can always trust the Aussies to put on a good show. Their man Mark Webber has yet to deliver a victory on home soil, but could this be the year he finally comes good? Photograph: Srdjan Suki/EPA

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso doesn't look hugely impressed at the prospect of starting fifth on the grid Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Into turn one they go and already Sebastian Vettel has opened up a yawning divide between himself and the pack ... Photograph: Crispin Thruston/Action Images

Hamilton had promised to give the German a run for his money into the opening corner, but instead the Brit is jostling with the Red Bull behind him. Further back, Jenson Button has lost ground to the black Renault of Vitaly Petrov, while Alonso is forced wide Photograph: Crispin Thruston/Action Images

An over-head photograph shows just how the race to the first corner unfolded: Vettel's progress was entirely unchallenged while Webber narrowly failed to sneak past Hamilton on the outside. Button's desire to foil Alonso allowed Petrov to successfully sweep through on the inside, followed shortly by Felipe Massa Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Given Vettel's pace and his outstanding start, this race looks a foregone conclusion already. The German has led every lap of the previous two grand prix and surely only a slip-up can deny him victory today Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Button's hopes of a third straight win in Melbourne are crushed by Massa's defensive tactics. Only when Button mistakenly cuts the chicane does he advance past the Brazilian, but inevitably the 2009 world champion is called into the pits for a drive-through penalty Photograph: Crispin Thruston/Action Images

Petrov takes advantage of Webber's three-stop strategy to steal third place Photograph: SRDJAN SUKI/EPA

... while Hamilton's quest to leapfrog Vettel proves fruitless. Even with the help of Button, who tries to cage the flying German after his exit from the pits, Hamilton is 20 seconds behind Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Adrian Sutil and new boy Paul di Resta enjoy a decent race, cruising round in ninth and tenth respectively - that's enough to earn Di Resta a point in his first ever grand prix Photograph: Crispin Thruston/Action Images

Vettel proves unstoppable as he sweeps to victory, with Hamilton second, Petrov third, Alonso fourth, Webber fifth, Button sixth and Massa seventh Photograph: Vladimir Rys Photography/Getty Images

Vettel emerges from his car to a shower of champagne. That was a seamless drive and one which confirms his status as the best driver on the grid Photograph: Vladimir Rys Photography/Getty Images

Vettel looks delighted as he receives his trophy Photograph: Martin Philbey/AAP/Press Association Images

And he's not the only one celebrating today. It's David Coulthard's 40th birthday and to mark the occasion Vettel kindly smears a handful of chocolate cake into his former team-mate's face Photograph: Mark Thompson/Getty Images