Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the opening Grand Prix of the season in Melbourne.

Many thanks for joining us this morning - Kimi Raikkonen was simply unbeatable today, and on this evidence will be a very strong contender for the title this season. We'll be back on Friday as free practice gets the weekend of the Malaysian Grand Prix under way. See you then!

Fernando Alonso comes second, Sebastian Vettel comes third, with Massa, Hamilton and Webber making up the top six.

KIMI RAIKKONEN WINS THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX!

Into the final lap now, and Kimi Raikkonen is about to announce himself as a serious title contender with an asbolutely magnificent drive in what appears to be an asbolutely magnificent F1 car.

Alonso lost a full four seconds in that incident with Charles Pic - and Kimi Raikkonen will win this Grand Prix!

Alonso's last chance of winning this race goes as back-marker Charles Pic swerves in front of him and almost takes him out. Ferrari's man avoids disaster, but almost comes to a complete stop.

Raikkonen eases off a little on that last lap, but only because he now knows this one is in the bag - only a mistake can stop him now.

A nice close-up slow-mo from the TV producers show Raikkonen's tyres are starting to crumble a bit, but nothing like as badly as most of his competitors have done at the end of a stint. This Lotus looks very light on its feet.

Alonso takes over half a second out of Raikkonen in that last lap, but it's still 6.5 seconds between first and second. Sutil, meanwhilem is being caught by team-mate Di Resta at an incredible rate.

Raikkonen driing smoothly, calmly, still 7.1 seconds ahead - only his tyres falling off a cliff could stop him now.

Sutil's tyres looks totally wrecked now - he's pitched for a miracle this afternoon, in defiance of the blue flags flown by patronising stewards who assume a Force India must be a back marker.

Sutil loses track position to Hamilton and the former champion goes through - and now Mark Webber makes it past him as well.

Hamilton denied a pass on Sutil and the end of the pit straight - up ahead, Alonso takes another 0.1 out of Raikkonen, but it's clear now that he does not have the pace to win this race.

Lewis Hamilton enjoying a great battle with Adrian Sutil for fifth place -- the Mercedes man is going far quicker, and is almost up on Sutil's rear.

Alonso closes the gap a little on that last lap, but he's still 7.55 seconds behind. Vettel looks certain to pick up third place - he's well behind Alonso, and three seconds ahead of Massa.

A few more spots of rain falling now, but doesn't look like being more than light drizzle.

Raikkonen is stretching his lead despite Alonso having clear track - the Finn simply has brilliant pace today, as well as superior strategy.

Raikkonen is increasing that lead all the time - but that should change as Alonso finally gets past Chilton and van der Garde.

Alonso being held up even more now as he gets stuck behind a fight for lower order spots between Giedo van der Garde and Max Chilton. Raikkonen now seven seconds clear!

Sutil gets given the blue flags - even though he should not let Alonso past, since he's well and truly in this race. Sutil knows to ignore them, but Alonso manages to get passt thanks to some well-timed DRS boost.