( CNN ) Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton and teammate Nico Rosberg resumed where they left off last season as the 2015 Formula One season kicked off in Melbourne . The Mercedes duo , who took pole position in all but one of last season 's qualifying sessions and won 16 of the 19 races , were dominant in first and second practice for Sunday 's Australian Grand Prix . Rosberg , who won last year 's GP at Albert Park , was fastest around the Melbourne street circuit on Friday , finishing 0.1 second ahead of Hamilton with Sebastian Vettel taking third spot for his new team Ferrari -- the German four-time world champion finished 0.715 seconds off the pace set by his compatriot . Vettel 's Finnish teammate , Kimi Raikkonen was fourth , 1.1 seconds behind the lead with Williams ' Valtteri Bottas and Daniel Kvyat , who was making his debut for Red Bull since his switch from Toro Rosso , finishing fifth and sixth respectively . `` It was great to be back in the car at this awesome track , '' Rosberg said , the official Formula One site reported . `` Today we have the evidence that our Silver Arrow is quick again and it was a great start for the team , '' he added . `` It seems again that it 's very close between Lewis and me and he is a great driver , so I need to nail the setup every time to come out on top . This year will be a big battle again against him , I 'm sure . I 'm looking forward to the first weekend of the new season with all the great fans out there . '' Hamilton , who was forced to retire from last year 's race with engine trouble , was satisfied with his pace . `` It feels great to be back on track and back into a race weekend . In general it 's been a good first day , '' Hamilton said . `` Today seemed to confirm that we have pretty good pace . But there are still other quick cars out there and we ca n't go into tomorrow 's sessions not thinking that they will be close . '' The opening day 's racing was somewhat overshadowed by an ongoing dispute between Sauber and the Swiss team 's 2014 reserve driver Giedo van der Garde . The 29-year-old Dutchman recently started legal proceeding against the Swiss team claiming they had reneged on a promise to make him one of the lead drivers for the 2015 season . Van der Garde won the case held in a Swiss court earlier this month , with the decision being upheld by Supreme Court of Victoria in Australia on Tuesday after Sauber had appealed the original ruling . During practice Van der Garde could be seen in the Sauber garage wearing his race overalls , but he did not make an appearance on track as Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr completing both practice sessions . Following the initial court ruling , team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said that changing drivers hours before a Grand Prix could be dangerous . `` What we can not do is jeopardize the safety of our team , or any other driver on the track , by having an unprepared driver in a car that has now been tailored to two other assigned drivers , '' she said , Formula1.com reported . Brazilian Nasr was the highest placed of the two finishing 11th while Swede Marcus Ericsson was 15th . Elsewhere there was also a uncertain start for McLaren who finished way down the pecking order . Jenson Button was 13th , almost four seconds off the pace for the CNN-sponsored team while teammate Kevin Magnussen , who was deputizing for the absent Fernando Alonso , was 16th following second practice . Local favorite Daniel Ricciardo completed just nine laps of practice after his Red Bull suffered engine failure . Qualifying for Sunday 's race gets underway on Saturday .
Nico Rosberg fastest ahead of team Lewis Hamilton in Australia GP practice . Mercedes duo dominated last season winning all but three of 19 races . Giedo van der Garde does n't race for Sauber despite court ruling . Sebatian Vettel makes good start for new team Ferrari finishing second practice in third .