Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, the first race of the 2008 Formula 1 World Championship. After a turbulent 58 laps (307.574 kms) with three Safety Car periods, Lewis won with 5.4 seconds ahead of Nick Heidfeld and Nico Rosberg. Lewis’ new team mate Heikki Kovalainen, who led for eight laps and ran second for 21 laps, came home fifth. It was the fifth Grand Prix victory for Lewis. Both drivers were on two-stop strategies. Lewis pitted on laps 18 (9.2 seconds) and 43 (8.6 seconds); Heikki came in on laps 22 (9 seconds) and 47 (8 seconds). After the first of 18 Grands Prix, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes lead the Constructors’ World Championship with 14 points ahead of BMW Sauber and Williams Toyota with 8 points each. Lewis took the lead in the drivers’ ranking with 10 points ahead of Heidfeld (8) and Rosberg (6).