A software Glitch makes Vettel's Ferrari win the Australian Grand Prix

By, 2018-03-26

Melbourne - Mercedes said Sunday a software glitch may have cost world champion Lewis Hamilton victory after Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari won the Formula 1 season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton was in control of Sunday's race until Romain Grosjean's Haas stopped on track and officials imposed a Virtual Safety Car (VSC), which restricts the pace of the cars on track.

Vettel took full advantage of VSC

The VSC caused the field to slow while Vettel, who was leading courtesy of Hamilton's earlier stop, was able to dive into the pits for fresh tyres and lose less time than under normal race conditions.

It meant Vettel emerged from the pits marginally in front of a startled Hamilton and held on to his advantage to the chequered flag for his third Australian GP victory.

Mercedes' former world champion Nico Rosberg said he was staggered by the team's software problems.

"It's unbelievable that Mercedes had a software glitch of five seconds. Five seconds is the world out there in F1. It's a huge one and it cost them the win," he said.