2014 Drivers Champion Lewis Hamilton defends his title by winning the season's first race in Australia.

The 30-year-old Briton dominated the Australian Grand Prix while maintaining a gap with his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg. The two were comfortable throughout the race as the rest of the field tried to catch up behind them.

Ferrari's newly acquired driver, former Drivers Champion Sebastian Vettel took home third for his new Italian team.

Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger awarded the drivers with the trophies. He interviewed them as well while up on the podium.

The drivers' responses below were published in Formula1.com.

"My team did an amazing job today and it's an incredible feeling to win and also to be here with you, man." said Hamilton. "I thought you were taller!"

"I was trying every lap to my maximum and I will do all year," said Rosberg. "I will give him a big run for his money and hopefully beat him."

Vettel was asked how it feels now that he is with Ferrari, the German had this to say:

"It's a very,very big honour," he said. "We can very proud, I said to the guys, thank you very much, grazie mille, abbiamo una machina bella, we have a great car not only in qualifying but for the race as well and it's great to join them and I'm really proud."

Jenson Button finished 11th and last in his Mclaren-Honda car.

William's Valtteri Bottas was absent from the track when he was ordered by the official doctor not to race following the injuries sustained to his back during the qualifying session.

The revived Manor-Marussia team did not participate at all due to software problems that prevented the cars from racing.

"We have come such a long way in an incredibly short space of time, so to miss out on qualifying is of course very disappointing," said Manor team principal John Booth in a report from BBC Sport.

The next race takes place in Kuala Lumpur at the Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix on Mar. 27-29.