Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton has produced a winning start to the Formula One season, triumphing comprehensively in the Australian Grand Prix.

The British driver was followed swiftly by his German team-mate Nico Rosberg to repeat the team’s one-two finish from last year’s championship.

Just 11 cars finished the race, including Australian Daniel Ricciardo in sixth position.

But at the front it was business as usual for Mercedes, who carried over their record-breaking domination from last season around Melbourne’s Albert Park street circuit.

Hamilton and Rosberg put a gulf between themselves and the field, adding almost a second a lap to their lead in the early stages and lapping all but three cars.

Their dominance assured, the pair eased to a victory which flips their one-two result from last year in Melbourne.

They shared the podium with four-time champion Sebastian Vettel on his debut for Ferrari.

A spate of pre-race withdrawals meant the grid for the Australian Grand Prix was the smallest field – 15 cars – for a season-opening race in more than 50 years.

Valterri Bottas was unable to race with a back injury, while Kevin Magnussen and Daniil Kyvat both failed to negotiate the reconnaissance lap.

The drop outs continued during the race and only 11 finished.

Pastor Maldonaldo met an early end after a nudge from Sebastian Vettel.

His Lotus team-mate Romain Grosjean retired a lap later, bringing the field to just 13.

The retirements continued with teenage debutant Max Verstappen’s Toro Rosso billowing smoke and ending his F1 debut after 34 laps.

Ferrari former world champion Kimi Raikkonen’s race ended with 17 laps remaining, the victim of a poorly fitted left rear tyre.