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McLaren's Jenson Button wins Australian GP

2010-03-29 09:05 BJT

Defending Formula One World Champion Jenson Button survived a first corner collision and successfully gambled on tyre choice as he went on to win an incident-packed Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park in Melbourne on Sunday.

McLaren Formula One driver Jenson Button of Britain celebrates winning the Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne March 28, 2010.REUTERS/Scott Wensley (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SPORT MOTOR RACING)
McLaren Formula One driver Jenson Button 
of Britain celebrates winning the 
Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne 
March 28, 2010.REUTERS/Scott Wensley 
(AUSTRALIA - Tags: SPORT MOTOR RACING)

The tension was palpable at the start with the notorious first corner. Fernando Alonso was squeezed between Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher and spun the wrong way, facing the oncoming traffic. Schumacher was forced to pit with front wing damage. He would finish tenth for the Mercedes GP team.

Defending world champion Jenson Button was the first driver prepared to change from intermediate tyres to slicks.

Lewis Hamilton moved up from 11th to third before pulling in for the new tyres.

Sebastian Vettel also saw his luck disappear after a brake failure on the Reb Bull car forced him into a gravel trap and ended his race.