Hamilton wins amid the chaos in Australia

By Alan Baldwin

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - McLaren's Lewis Hamilton avoided mayhem around him to open the Formula One season with a resounding pole-to-flag victory in a crash-strewn Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The 23-year-old Briton, now with a phenomenal five wins from just 18 races, finished 5.4 seconds ahead of Germany's Nick Heidfeld in a BMW Sauber.

Germany's Nico Rosberg celebrated his first Formula One podium with third place for Williams in a race with only seven of the 22 starters still running at the finish and neither Ferrari reaching the chequered flag.

While the champions contemplated their worst start to a season since 1992, Hamilton was ecstatic.

"Coming into a new season, turning over a new leaf, we really wanted to get off on the right foot," said Hamilton, who missed out on the title last year by a single point to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

"It's quite different to my first win in Montreal, just because that was really not expected," he added.

"This win perhaps feels better than any because I feel I've improved in many areas.

"I wouldn't say it's the perfect win... but I think in terms of managing my tyres, controlling my pace and confidence and being comfortable in the car, it's the best race I've had so far," Hamilton said.