DRIVERS: 1 – Sebastian VETTEL (Ferrari) 2 – Lewis HAMILTON (Mercedes) 3 – Kimi RAIKKONEN (Ferrari) PODIUM INTERVIEWS (Conducted by Mark Webber) Q: Sebastian, 48th victory, 100th podium, a couple behind Alain Prost, so run us through it – what a race. Sebastian Vettel: Yeah, obviously pretty good. We got a bit lucky with the safety car but yeah, really enjoyed it. A great turnout today, you saw in the grandstands, I really enjoyed the lap back in. And for the race, I mean my start, I was hoping for it to be a little bit better, but it didn’t really work, so I had to settle for third. And then, towards the end of that first stint I lost a little bit the connection to Lewis and Kimi ahead. I was struggling a little bit with the tyres. I felt happier with the soft tyres, with the yellow tyres at the end, for the second stint. Obviously I was praying for a safety and there was a car that stopped in Turn 4 and I was like ‘no, it’s not coming out’ and then somebody stopped, I think it was a Haas, in Turn 2, and then when I saw it I was full of adrenalin, even though the race is frozen, but still to come into the pits, everything on the limit, trying to get back out, because they told me it was really close with Lewis. And when we got out ahead I knew it was difficult to pass but he kept some pressure on, especially at the beginning of the last stint and then at the end, during the last five laps at least I could enjoy it a little bit more. Q: Well done. Lewis, God, what a weekend you’ve had! Give him a round of applause. He’s been incredible this weekend, absolutely on fire yesterday in qualifying. You’ve been on this podium eight times, more than any other driver in history in Australia. I thought you drove phenomenally this weekend, mate, it got away through tactics in the [it lane. Talk us through the race, how was it for you? Lewis Hamilton: It’s been an incredible weekend, honestly. To arrive and have the performance we had today. A big congratulations to Sebastian and Ferrari. Today, obviously, they did the better job and we have to go back to the drawing board and work on it. We still have great pace, our qualifying was great, I think through the race I was able to apply some pressure towards the end. This is one awesome circuit but it’s so hard to overtake, even with the extra DRS, obviously with the cars being as close as they were. At the end it was really trying to live to fight another day, save the engine and we’ll try to regain the point later on. But a big thank you to everyone that has come out this weekend. We’ve got so many British flags and for the Australians for having us this week. Q: Kimi, my man. How was it? Sixteen times this man has raced in front of you guys. He’s an absolute legend. Up here on the podium for the first time since he won in 2013. Kimi, how was your race? Kimi Raikkonen: I think it was OK. We didn’t have the most luck but what can you do. Luckily it was Seb that got the luck and it was our team at least. I think I had decent speed all day long and just difficult to pass. I got a good go in the second corner and then just tried to follow and see if we could do something in a pit stop. Obviously with the safety car it’s pure luck. We could hold onto third place. Got some pressure in the end, from the Red Bull with little bit more fresh tyres, but I’ll take it the third place. I think I’ve been happy with the car and it’s nice to go onto the next races. Q: Sebastian, we meet up again on this podium with (you) victorious. It’s a nice meeting point in terms of Ferrari winning, the season starting off on the front foot, last year it was a titanic battle with Lewis, off to Bahrain in a few weeks. How do you see it playing out? SV: Obviously we were a little bit lucky today. Lewis had a great lap yesterday. He deserved pole position. He drove a very good race; controlled it in the beginning. As I say, we got a bit lucky, but we’ll take it. We put a flag up in Maranello for every win and I asked them to do that this morning back in Europe. We’re not yet there where we want to be. I’m not yet exactly there with the car, you know. If I don’t feel what I need to feel then it’s a bit tricky. I think we all know. But I think it gives us a good start, a good wind and fresh motivation for the coming weeks.

Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 5 (L to R): Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes-AMG F1, Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari at Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Race, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday 25 March 2018. © Manuel Goria/Sutton Images Race winner Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari celebrates in parc ferme at Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Race, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday 25 March 2018. © Mark Sutton/Sutton Images Race winner Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari talks with Mark Webber (AUS) on the podium at Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Race, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday 25 March 2018. © Mark Sutton/Sutton Images www.sutton-images.com Race winner Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari celebrates on the podium with the trophy at Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Race, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday 25 March 2018. © Sutton Images,Sutton Images Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari and Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari celebrate on the podium with the champagne at Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Race, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday 25 March 2018. © Jery Andre/Sutton Images Info Close

PRESS CONFERENCE QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR Q: (Yianni Mavromoustakos - Talkingtorque.com.au) Firstly congratulations to Seb, now for all three drivers, how did you find the Halo in race conditions. KR: No different than in testing or at any other point. I think it definitely doesn’t disturb at all. I think it was helpful here because the sun, when it’s coming in the right height, it’s blocking the sun in the eyes. So, I think it was only beneficial here, and it’s safer. Maybe people don’t like how it looks but y’know it might make a difference for us one day and it’s a good thing to have. Seb? SV: During the race, it was no issue. As Kimi said, it even helped. I don’t know what you call the thing in the car… it worked like a sun visor, that helped. In the parade lap, that’s when it was bothering because you couldn’t see so well the people in the grandstands. Was trying to find, is it better to look below, or… wasn’t tall enough to get above. Other than that, no difference. Lewis, anything to add? LH: I don’t think so. Q: (Luigi Perna – La Gazzetta dello Sport) Question for Seb, what do you still miss in the feeling of the car. It’s up to the balance of the car, the power of the engine or what else? SV: No, I think the car has huge potential but yeah, I’m still struggling a little bit. I think if we also compare to where we’re still a bit weak, it’s where I also feel that the car is not yet there, so, what am I missing, when you talk about something that you miss as a driver, the car doesn’t respond the way you like and it’s still sliding in places you don’t want it to slide. I’m quite… I want the car to be spot on when I hit brakes and turn in, and in that window, I’m not yet happy, so it’s always sort-of a compromise. Of course, it’s our job to drive around problems that we have but if I could chose, I would like it a bit different and yeah, it’s not a big drama. I think we can live with it but I feel also if we get on top of that then you feel more confident. A track like here, when you have confidence it makes a big difference. I think today was quite windy, very gusty. You always try to push but equally to try to be a bit safe – because you don’t want to throw it away. That’s exactly where it makes a difference: if then then have the confidence and you trust the car, you don’t think for a second, you just go out and do it. At the moment, it just feels a bit too conscious. So, let’s hope I get to think less, and we need to think less in the next races.

Next Previous Enlarge 1 / 3 Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari SF-71H at Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Race, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday 25 March 2018. © Dirk Klynsmith/Sutton Images Race winner Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari SF-71H arrives in parc ferme at Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Race, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday 25 March 2018. © Jery Andre/Sutton Images Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari SF-71H leads Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes-AMG F1 W09 EQ Power+ at Formula One World Championship, Rd1, Australian Grand Prix, Race, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday 25 March 2018. © Manuel Goria/Sutton Images Info Close