McLaren's Button wins F1 Australian GP

Melbourne, Australia: McLaren driver Jenson Button won the Formula One season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, taking the race Down Under for the third time in four years.

Button won by 2.1 seconds from reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull after the race was turned into a 17-lap shootout following the late emergence of the safety car.

Pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton of McLaren was third, just ahead of local hope Mark Webber of Red Bull.

Fernando Alonso of Ferrari was fifth, with Williams' Pastor Maldonado crashing heavily on the final lap while pursuing him.