REVIEW: Button bags edge by winning F1 opener

FORMULA 1 - Jenson Button took the chequered flag in the GP of Australia on Sunday. The Briton surged ahead of defending world champion Sebastian Vettel and teammate Lewis Hamilton. Button gained an important advantage, because the winner of the opening race has won the drivers’ championship in seven of the previous 10 seasons (70%) and in 17 of the previous 22 (77%).

This is how the previous 10 seasons unfolded:

2011 - First GP: Sebastian Vettel, World Champion: Sebastian Vettel

2010 - First GP: Fernando Alonso, World Champion: Sebastian Vettel

2009 - First GP: Jenson Button, World Champion: Jenson Button

2008 - First GP: Lewis Hamilton, World Champion: Lewis Hamilton

2007 - First GP: Kimi Räikkönen, World Champion: Kimi Räikkönen

2006 - First GP: Fernando Alonso, World Champion: Fernando Alonso

2005- First GP: Giancarlo Fisichella, World Champion: Fernando Alonso

2004 - First GP: Michael Schumacher, World Champion: Michael Schumacher

2003 - First GP: David Coulthard, World Champion: Michael Schumacher

2002 - First GP: Michael Schumacher, World Champion: Michael Schumacher