Melbourne, Australia – March 17, 2013
The 2013 Formula 1 season began with an unexpected but masterful victory as Kimi Räikkönen secured the win at the Australian Grand Prix, delivering a flawless performance for Lotus. While the year would later be dominated by Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing, the opening round in Melbourne belonged to the Finnish driver, who executed a brilliant race strategy to claim the top step of the podium.
Starting from seventh on the grid, Räikkönen showcased his trademark consistency and tire management to outlast his rivals at Albert Park. While pole-sitter and early race leader Vettel initially looked strong, the Lotus E21’s ability to preserve its tires proved to be the key factor. Räikkönen, executing a two-stop strategy compared to most competitors’ three, maintained pace while others struggled with tire degradation.
“It was one of the easiest races of my career,” Räikkönen remarked after the race. “We had the speed, we had the strategy, and everything went smoothly.”
Fernando Alonso finished second for Ferrari, while Red Bull’s Vettel had to settle for third, unable to match the Lotus’ efficiency over the race distance. Lewis Hamilton, in his first race for Mercedes, finished fifth, showing promise but unable to challenge for the win.
The victory marked Lotus’ final triumph in Formula 1, as the team—formerly Renault—would later transition into what is now Alpine. For Räikkönen, it was another moment of brilliance in his illustrious career, proving that, even a decade after his F1 debut, he remained a force to be reckoned with.
While Vettel and Red Bull would go on to dominate the season, the 2013 Australian Grand Prix was a reminder that, in Formula 1, surprises can always happen—and that Kimi Räikkönen, on his day, was untouchable.
