Press Release
Press Release MARCH 17, 2013 Renault powers Lotus F1 Team and Kimi Raikkonen to Australian Grand Prix victory The Renaultpowered Lotus F1 Team E21 of Kimi Raikkonen has taken the first win of the 2013 season following a scintillating Australian Grand Prix. The 2007 world champion started from seventh on the grid and used a clever pit stop strategy to secure victory by more than 12 seconds over Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel finished in third overall in the Infiniti Red Bull Racing, putting two Renaultengined drivers onto the podium. Raikkonen graduated to fifth off the start and made an early change to the medium compound tyres on lap 9. He completed a long stint on this set of rubber and, despite two light rain showers, stayed out longer than his closest rivals. The Finn returned to the pits on lap 34, after which the strategy unfolded perfectly as Alonso, Hamilton, Massa and Vettel made one further stop, leaving Raikkonen out in front. Vettel converted his pole position into an immediate lead but likewise made an early switch to the medium tyres. He then raced hard with Sutil, Hamilton and Massa, before taking the final podium spot. Teammate Mark Webber had a slow start and struggled with a KERS that only functioned intermittently, but had a strong finish to claim sixth overall. Romain Grosjean (Lotus F1 Team) put a fourth Renaultengined car into the points, claiming tenth. Williams F1 Team had a more difficult race: Valtteri Bottas finished his debut Grand Prix in 14th overall however Pastor Maldonado retired on lap 24 following a spin.
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