Melrose Achieves Pole, Hamilton Rescues Victory

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time
1	32	Daniel Melrose		1:37.698
2	21	Stoffel Vandoorne		1:37.753
3	27	Nathan McKane		1:37.755
4	2	Lewis Hamilton		1:38.002
5	91	Max Verstappen		1:38.009
6	63	Jules Bianchi		1:38.224
7	62	Dave Cassidy		1:38.597
8	29	Pastor Maldonado		1:38.600
9	22	Johnny Cecotto Jr.		1:38.826
10	28	Romain Grosjean		1:39.032
11	1	Sebastian Vettel		1:32.081
12	55	Artem Markelov		1:32.220
13	90	Daniel Ricciardo		1:32.280
14	30	Mike Rockenfeller		1:32.290
15	99	Kevin Magnussen		1:32.434
16	31	Rhys Davies		1:32.698
17	56	Bradley Dagnall		1:32.845
18	6	Ma Qinghua		1:32.895
19	67	Marcel Agyemang-Badu		1:28.890
20	43	Sébastien Bourdais		1:28.969
21	12	Scott Dixon		1:29.126
22	66	Esteban Ocon		1:29.490
23	5	Valtteri Bottas		1:29.644
24	98	Salvatore Miccoli		1:29.904
25	42	Davide Valsecchi		1:30.504
26	11	Shad Griffith		1:30.514

* demoted five places for changing engine/gearbox

Report:

People where rather excited to watch qualifying when a giant rain cloud arrived at the Gold Coast. As we all know anything is possible when the weather mixes up qualifying. Only the most capable drivers succeed in the wet weather.

Qualifying was a total washout and, if not for time constraints, would have probably been moved a few hours. As it is, it had to happen and indeed it was one of the greatest of all time who won pole position: Daniel Melrose scored his first pole since autumn 2011 with a legendary lap that showed both his skill and his bravery, beating out a very strong Stoffel Vandoorne for best spot on the grid.

The rain left with barely a trace, allowing us to have a dry race. Whilst this would not help Melrose, the crowd was still hyped. Even though he ended up losing positions rather quickly, he still managed to secure five points.

Lewis Hamilton quickly overcame the Australian World Champion and went on to build a solid lead for himself, with Stoffel Vandoorne and Jules Bianchi locked in a battle for second. Unfortunately for Hamilton, it became really close in the final laps when he had to pit to replace a punctured tyre, forcing him to beat both Bianchi and Vandoorne with offensive action to take this valueable victory.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	2	Lewis Hamilton		48:14.524	15
2	21	Stoffel Vandoorne		+0.539	12
3	63	Jules Bianchi		+3.543	10
4	29	Pastor Maldonado		+15.771	8
5	27	Nathan McKane		+19.536	6
6	90	Daniel Ricciardo		+20.307	5
7	99	Kevin Magnussen		+45.171	4
8	32	Daniel Melrose		+52.589	5
9	98	Salvatore Miccoli		+57.193	2
10	6	Ma Qinghua		+58.364	1
11	67	Marcel Agyemang-Badu		+60.133	0
12	66	Esteban Ocon		+60.474	0
13	1	Sebastian Vettel		+60.878	0
14	43	Sébastien Bourdais		+64.332	0
15	28	Romain Grosjean		+74.331	0
16	91	Max Verstappen		+1 Lap	0
17	42	Davide Valsecchi		+1 Lap	0
18	5	Valtteri Bottas		+1 Lap	0
19	56	Bradley Dagnall		+2 Laps	0
20	11	Shad Griffith		+2 Laps	0
DNF	31	Rhys Davies		Accident	0
DNF	62	Dave Cassidy		Accident	0
DNF	12	Scott Dixon		Electrical	0
DNF	55	Artem Markelov		Transmission	0
DNF	22	Johnny Cecotto Jr.		Engine	0
DNF	30	Mike Rockenfeller		Throttle	0

Fastest Lap:

Stoffel Vandoorne – 1:16.670

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Ma Qinghua – achieved a valueable point for Williams.

Reject Of The Race:

Sebastian Vettel – he can do a lot better than this.