(CNN) -- New Formula One season, same old story. Triple world champion Sebastian Vettel began his quest for a fourth consecutive drivers' title by putting his Red Bull top of the timesheets in practice ahead of the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. The German's lap of one minute and 25.908 seconds edged out teammate Mark Webber, who was second fastest. "Overall it was a good day for us," the 25-year-old Vettel told the sport's official website. "After all the mileage of testing, it was fun to be out there -- this circuit doesn't get easier, it's a good challenge." "Today was a good day and the balance was good, but we need to be ready for what's coming up."
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Sebastian Vettel quickest in practice ahead of Australian Grand Prix
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Sunday's race in Melbourne is the first of the 2013 Formula One season
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Vettel first ahead of Red Bull teammate Mark Webber in second place
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Mercedes' Nico Rosberg third fastest, Lewis Hamilton seventh
Red Bull
Red Bull
The nearest challenger to the @placeholder drivers was Mercedes' Nico Rosberg, who continued to show the pace which saw him go faster than any other driver during preseason testing.
Lewis Hamilton
It wasn't an ideal start to a new chapter in his career for the 2008 world champion, with @placeholder ending the day seventh fastest after sliding off the track during what looked to be a promising lap.
Nico Rosberg
"I'm happy with where we are and to see @placeholder in third place on the timesheets shows that we're pretty competitive.