Lewis Hamilton joined Arnold Schwarzenegger on the top step of the podium at the Australian Grand Prix yesterday and in unison they repeated the actor's trademark phrase: "I'll be back".

Hamilton was back as the reigning world champion, back as a race winner, and gave every indication that he'll be back on that top step many more times this season after sweeping to victory in Formula One's season-opening race.

The Briton led Nico Rosberg in a one-two finish for Mercedes as the team extended its 2014 dominance into the new year.

Hamilton led from start to finish and beat his teammate by 1.3 seconds at the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne, with Sebastian Vettel finishing third in his first race for Ferrari.

"My team has done an awesome job and it is an incredible feeling to continue on winning from last year," Hamilton said. "Nico was very quick throughout the race. It was really trying to manage the fuel and the tires, not knowing the limit in terms of how far they can go."

A series of pre-race incidents meant only 15 cars started the race, and only 11 finished, with Jenson Button last in the uncompetitive McLaren-Honda.

Williams' Felipe Massa finished fourth and Felipe Nasr was fifth for Sauber, providing some welcome good news for that team after a week of legal battles and a 2014 season without a single point.

Local favorite Daniel Ricciardo was sixth in a disappointing race for Red Bull, which clearly has not solved the issues with its Renault engine. The Australian spent much of the race trying and failing to pass the Sauber in front of him.

Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez were seventh and 10th in a good finish by Force India which made a very late start to its season preparations.

Sauber's Marcus Ericsson was eighth — the first championship points for a Swede in 26 years — and Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz Jr finished an encouraging ninth on debut.

Williams' Valtteri Bottas was ruled out of the race by a back injury suffered in qualifying, while the McLaren of Kevin Magnussen and the Red Bull of Daniil Kvyat both suffered engine failures on the installation lap and did not start.

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