Motorsport: Schumacher wins Australian Grand Prix

Germany's Michael Schumacher has won the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne today.

Schumacher, Ferrari's defending world champion, won by 1.717 seconds from McLaren's David Coulthard.

Rubens Barrichello, also from the Ferrari stable, was third.

Finn Mika Hakkinen skidded off the track in the 26th lap, crashing into tyre barriers and putting him out of the race.

It is the second year in a row that the McLaren driver has failed to finish the opening race of the season.

Ralf Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve also crashed out on lap six.