Mclaren's Jenson Button took victory in the first race of the Formula One 2012 season to get his title challenge off to the best possible start in Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne.
The Briton seized the lead from the start and was never seriously challenged despite an action and drama packed race which saw the deployment of the safety car in the late stages of the race and it ultimately denied Mclaren a possible 1-2 finish.
The 2011 runner up led from the first corner after passing his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who had secured pole, to control the race and finish two seconds ahead of 2011 Champion Sebastian Vettel.
A clever strategy by Redbull gave Vettel second place by pitting under the safety car got him ahead of Hamilton to complete the podium.
Fellow Australian Mark Webber led Fernando Alonso who had battled with Pastor Maldonado in the closing laps before the Williams driver dropped it and hit the wall on the last lap to throw away a handful of points.
Kamui Kobayashi, come back iceman Kimi Raikkonen, Sergio Perez, Daniel Ricciardo and Force India's Paul di Resta complete the top ten.
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