He should have finished fifth, but he had run an extra lap by mistake and was placed seventh.

WSJ: Social Media

"We always qualify around seventh or eighth and we finish the first lap in the first three or four positions normally and then after that the race becomes a little easier when that happens, when you are in the leading group, " Alonso explained.

WSJ: Alonso Happy to Spoil the Party

It wasn't an ideal start to a new chapter in his career for the 2008 world champion, with Hamilton ending the day seventh fastest after sliding off the track during what looked to be a promising lap.

CNN: Vettel off to a flier as Red Bull set the pace in Melbourne

After coming under pressure from McLaren's Lewis Hamilton at Turn One on the opening lap, Vettel produced a sublime performance to convert his pole position, while Alonso finished seventh and Webber eighth.

BBC: Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel kept Formula 1 title belief

Toseland, who enjoyed his best performance of last season at this circuit, was among the pacesetters over the opening laps and ended up seventh fastest despite his misdemeanour - merely a result of pushing the front end too hard as he chased an improved lap time.

BBC: Matt Roberts' MotoGP column