Hamilton wins Australian GP

CANBERRA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Briton Lewis Hamilton won the victory in the world Formula One drivers' championship in Melbourne on Sunday just in a fraction of a second.

Hamilton won the start of the Australian Grand Prix, won the race and - even though there are 17 more to go - put himself in prime position to improve on his amazing rookie year.

In a race that like so many was largely decided during Saturday's practice sessions, Hamilton claimed the pole position and with it, a mortgage on the race.

When the real action started, he shoved his McLaren Mercedes into the notorious first corner on the Albert Park circuit a breath in front of Robert Kubica - and that was that, the local news report said.

The only time Hamilton lost the lead was during his two fuel stops, but he never lost control.

In a race made all the more demanding by a temperature of 37 degrees from start to finish, only seven of the 22 starters made it to the chequered flag.