Button wins Formula 1 season opener

MELBOURNE, March 29 (UPI) -- Jenson Button led the entire race Sunday in winning Formula One's season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

The Frome, England, native started on the pole in his Mercedes and led all 58 laps to record the second grand prix victory in his F1 career. In 2006, he won the Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest.

The only time Button came close to relinquishing the lead was when he made his final pit stop with 11 laps remaining, but made it out of the pits just ahead of Sebastian Vettel.

Rubens Barrichello finished second to give the new Brawn GP team a 1-2 finish in its first race.

Brawn GP principal Ross Brawn recently bought the former Honda team.

"It's not just for me but for the whole team," Button said after his dominant victory. "I hope we can continue this way."

Jarno Trulli (Toyota) finished third despite starting from the rear of the field and defending F1 champion Lewis Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes) fourth.