Lewis Hamilton: My F1 vehicle is 99 percent flawless

Hamilton posted the fastest times in the first two practice sessions but was nearly a half-second behind Vettel in the Saturday practice on the 5.303-kilometer (3.295-mile) circuit.

“It has been a fantastic weekend so far”, Hamilton told reporters. “I’m just incredibly proud of my team”.

“Valtteri did a great job and it’s great for us as Mercedes”.

Hamilton’s overall best was good enough to eclipse both by over half a second, however, in an ominous display of supremacy from the triple champion that dented hopes the new season, featuring new-look cars, could see a closer battle at the front.

The West Australian ran third in the weekend’s opening practice session, 0.67 seconds behind Hamilton and his Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas.

“Mercedes do not have a number one, or a number two driver, so it is up to me to perform”.

Responding to a question about the drivers being overly-managed by public relations people, Bratches said: “There’s a number of sports where there’s big personalities that allow sports to punch above their respective pay grades”.

The third practice session ended under a red flag after 18-year-old Canadian Lance Stroll went too wide and clipped the wall at turn 10, damaging his right rear wheel.

“I’m excited to see what he can bring out of me and the team and all the guys we’re working with”.

Fernando Alonso’s trials continued with McLaren, with the Spaniard able to drag his auto to 13th on the grid – a far higher position than it might have managed had anyone else been at the wheel.

His rookie team mate Stoffel Vandoorne also suffered a problem in Q1 and will start 18th. The Briton stamped his authority in the first qualifying session of the season, by setting a record breaking lap of 1 minute and 22.188 seconds.

Hamilton set a best time of 1:23.620 using the ultra soft tires, eight tenths better than his first practice time. The Mexican, however, was reprimanded by the stewards for not adhering to FIA guidelines.

Sauber’s substitute driver, Italian Antonio Giovinazzi, was slowest during the session, more than five seconds behind the pacesetter. Vettel (GER) Ferrari 3. After the wedding ceremony at a Helsinki church, it was Bottas’s mentor Hakkinen who took the wheel to drive the happy newlyweds off in a posh Mercedes-Benz.

Fernando Alonso is one of the veterans of the circuit, having won back-to-back titles for Renault in 2005-06 and having stints at McLaren, Renault and Ferrari after that and before he rejoined McLaren. Massa (BRA) Williams 8.

The red lights go out for the start of the main race at 4pm in Melbourne – 6am United Kingdom time. Fourteenth position went to Esteban Ocon, also driving for Force India.