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