World champion Lewis Hamilton has picked up where he left off by winning the opening race of the 2015 Formula 1 season in Australia.

The Englishman finished in a time of 1:31:54 with relative ease, a gap of 1.3s to Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, who came second to see normal service resumed.

Sebastian Vettel and Felipe Massa secured third and fourth spot respectively, meanwhile, and there was a place in the top five at Albert Park for Sauber's Felipe Nasr.

Hamilton kicked off the season in the perfect manner by claiming the 34th win of his F1 career - and his first in Australia since his maiden title-winning season of 2008 - although things did not go to plan for either Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari or teenage debutant Max Verstappen who both crashed out and were unable to finish.

In fact, just 11 cars finished the Melbourne race in all, with Britain's Jenson Button coming last of those who did manage to pass the chequered flag.

Valtteri Bottas did not even get as far as the starting grid, meanwhile, falling victim to a back injury picked up during qualifying and sitting out the race completely.

Likewise, McLaren's Kevin Magnussen and Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat both fell victim to car trouble meaning that, with the Manor Marussia team absent all weekend, just 15 cars were remaining.

Pastor Maldonado spun out within a few hundred yards of the start, but, in terms of the leading pack, the race was all about Hamilton who built an early lead and comfortably claimed his seventh Grand Prix triumph in eight outings.

Full standings:

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
3. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)
4. Felipe Massa (Williams)
5. Felipe Nasr (Sauber)
6. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
7. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India)
8. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)
9. Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso)
10. Sergio Perez (Force India)
11. Jenson Button (McLaren)
DNF Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
DNF Jos Verstappen (Toro Rosso)
DNF Romain Grosjean (Lotus)
DNF Pastor Maldonado (Lotus)
DNF Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull)
DNF Kevin Magnussen (McLaren)
DNF Valtteri Bottas (Williams)