Ominous start: Hamilton leads Mercedes one-two in season's first practice

World champion Lewis Hamilton made an ominous start to the season as he led a Mercedes one-two in opening practice for the Australian Formula One Grand Prix here today.

Hamilton clocked a best time of one minute 24.026 seconds among his 27 laps to be a half-second quicker than team-mate Valtteri Bottas (1:24.577) in Melbourne.

The 33-year-old Briton is gunning for his fifth world title this year, an achievement which would match the legendary Juan Manuel Fangio and leave him just two adrift of Michael Schumacher's all-time record.

Dutchman Max Verstappen was third quickest in his Red Bull with 1:24.771, some 0.745sec behind Hamilton, while his Australian team-mate Daniel Ricciardo was sixth.

Ricciardo was heard saying on the team radio: "Still disconnected. I struggle with the front when leaning on it, and I feel like the rear hurts on exit still."