Nico Rosberg took the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, holding off Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, but Fernando Alonso might have been Formula One racing's biggest winner on the day.
Alonso's horrifying crash ended his race early and left spectators amazed that he survived.
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After striking the left-rear tire of Esteban Gutierrez car going into turn three, Alonso's McLaren crashed off a wall and flipped several times before coming to a rest upside down in the barriers. There wasn't much left of the car. Alonso, of Spain, walked away unharmed and was cleared by medical staff.
Fernando Alonso and his wrecked car (Getty Images)
The crash-related stoppage on lap 19 worked in Mercedes' favor as Rosberg took the lead on lap 35. He led the rest of the race to win for a second time in Melbourne, claiming a fourth consecutive victory in F1.
Hamilton, the defending world champion, finished second by holding off Sebastian Vettel.
