The 2010 season introduced twelve teams for the first time in many years, with Lotus, Virgin Racing, and Hispania all making their debuts. Refuelling during races was banned for 2010, fundamentally altering pit stop strategy. The field included Michael Schumacher, who had come out of retirement to drive for the new Mercedes GP team alongside Nico Rosberg.
Going into Australia, Fernando Alonso led the Drivers' Championship with 25 points after winning in Bahrain, ahead of teammate Massa on 18 and Hamilton on 15. Ferrari led the Constructors' Championship by 22 points from McLaren. The reigning champion Button had won the 2009 Australian Grand Prix and set himself the target of a podium on returning to Albert Park.
Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time in all three qualifying sessions to claim his second consecutive pole position of the season — the first time he had taken pole at Albert Park — with a lap of 1:23.919. Teammate Mark Webber lined up second, 0.116 seconds behind. Alonso started third and Button fourth despite excessive oversteer. Hamilton was the first driver eliminated from Q2, qualifying eleventh after being held up in traffic.
The conditions before the start were wet, and all cars began on intermediate tyres. A first-lap collision between Button and Alonso sent the Spaniard spinning to 22nd, while Schumacher was collected by the incident and damaged his front wing. Further around the circuit, Kobayashi's front wing became detached and struck the side of Nico Hulkenberg and Sebastien Buemi's cars, prompting a safety car.
When racing resumed at the end of lap four, Vettel led Massa. The field began switching to dry-compound tyres as the track dried, with Button making an early move to slick tyres on lap seven, sliding off at turn three in the process. After the first round of stops Vettel re-established himself in the lead ahead of Button, with Kubica running a strong third.
Vettel slowly stretched his lead while Alonso recovered methodically through the order. However, on lap 26 the left-front axle on Vettel's Red Bull lost drive, and he spun into the gravel at Ascari corner, retiring from the lead. Button inherited first place and managed it safely through the remaining 32 laps.
Hamilton closed on Kubica during the final third of the race but was unable to find a way past the Renault driver, losing time with attempted feints at Brabham and Whiteford corners. On lap 57, Webber attempted to take advantage of a battle between Hamilton and Alonso at Ascari but missed his braking point after his front wing lost downforce; he struck one of Hamilton's rear tyres and both cars went into the gravel. Webber pitted for a new wing and finished ninth. Hamilton recovered to sixth.
Button crossed the line 12 seconds ahead of Kubica, with Massa third. Alonso held off Rosberg in the closing laps to finish fourth, a result he declared himself very happy with given his first-lap spin. Actor John Travolta was invited by the race organisers to wave the chequered flag.
Button's victory was his first of the 2010 season and his second consecutive Australian Grand Prix win. He moved to third in the championship on 31 points. Alonso remained leader with 37 points, with Massa four points behind. In the Constructors' Championship, McLaren reduced the deficit to Ferrari to 16 points. Kubica's second place allowed Renault to tie Red Bull for fourth on 18 points. Webber was issued with a reprimand by the stewards for the collision with Hamilton.
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