Delighted Alonso enjoys fun race

Alonso made sure of his ninth victory after emerging ahead of Ferrari rival Michael Schumacher from his final pitstop just as the 37-year-old German was about to go past.

The cars almost touched but the Renault driver managed to take the lead.

Despite a shy attempt from Schumacher to pass later on, the Spanish driver held firm to start the season as he finished the last one, winning.

"It was the only opportunity to win the race and I was going for it," said Alonso, who took the chequered flag 1.2 seconds clear of Schumacher. "It was my moment, I knew that if I was in front of him at the exit, the race was mine.

"At the end it was quite a nice gap and all the last stint was quite relaxed. It was nice, a really fun race."

After the fierce battle with Schumacher, Alonso is expecting a very close championship.

"It will be interesting," said Alonso. "There are four teams fighting for victory: Honda, McLaren, Ferrari and Renault and any of them can fight for races and this will make the beginning of the season very interesting."

Italian Giancarlo Fisichella, winner of last year's Australian season-opener, slowed and retired on lap 22.