Vettel reveals how Halo helped him win Australian Grand Prix

Seastian Vettel suggested that the much-derided halo safety device came in handy as he snatched victory away from Lewis Hamilton at the Australian Grand Prix. The setting sun late in the race at Albert Park is often cited as a hindrance by drivers, but Vettel said the halo acted as a perfect sun visor as he cruised to victory.

A second win in Melbourne on the bounce was forged in pit-lane strategy at Ferrari, as it was in 2017, with Vettel capitalising on a Virtual Safety Car to get ahead of Hamilton after his sole pit-stop.

Hamilton applied pressure late in the race, but was ultimately forced to hang back and save engine power as he failed to win from pole for the fifth time in this race.

Vettel's team-mate Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium for Ferrari and the Finn was first to describe how the halo had assisted him while holding off the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo.

Raikkonen told the post-race press conference: "I think it definitely doesn't disturb at all.

"I think it was helpful here because the sun, when it's coming in the right height, it's blocking the sun in the eyes.

"So, I think it was only beneficial here, and it's safer. Maybe people don't like how it looks but it might make a difference for us one day and it's a good thing to have."

Vettel agreed with his colleague that the halo had also helped him in the latter stages of Sunday's race.

"During the race, it was no issue," he added. "As Kimi said, it even helped. I don't know what you call the thing in the car... it worked like a sun visor, that helped."

This is for YOU. #Seb5 #Tifosi pic.twitter.com/01MHu6bH4u — Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) March 25, 2018

Vettel did have one gripe with the safety device, however, as it prevented him from getting a full look at the grandstands as he celebrated his victory.

"In the parade lap, that's when it was bothering because you couldn't see so well the people in the grandstands," he said.

"I was trying to find, is it better to look below, or... I wasn't tall enough to get above."