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| Formula 1 Australia |
Webber was forced to battle for position against Ferrari top gun Fernando Alonso in the dying minutes of the race and remained more than 40 seconds behind Vettel, who never faltered in his full-throttle assault on Albert Park.
Webber's gamble to swap to soft tyres failed to pay off and he had to settle for fifth spot before pulling over and walking away from his Red Bull racer after crossing the finish line.
"It was a tough afternoon for me ... I couldn't keep up," Webber said. "To finish fifth in this car is not good enough. This was a difficult grand prix for me. I was off the pace all weekend.
"The race in general was disappointing. It's not really normal for me not to keep up with the rhythm up front with these guys.
"In the end everybody got the result they deserved today."
An elated Vettel was happy with his first win of the season and hailed the Melbourne race.
"The atmosphere is very special," he said. "You do the drivers' parade and the people go crazy. We have to keep coming."
Near-perfect autumn conditions lured more than 111,000 people to Albert Park but the overall attendance for the four-day spectacle was down 7000.
Organisers blamed bad weather but Australian Grand Prix chairman Ron Walker said it mattered little.
"We are the pride of Australia because we do things so well," Mr Walker said.
"The economic benefits study is being done and I think it will confirm what people have been saying all along - that it does amazing business for hotels and restaurants, the aircraft are booked out and we have thousands of people in town. We are doing something right."
Mr Walker said Melbourne had continued to make its mark internationally, with the race beamed into Asia, Russia and Europe.
"When you think about the great things that have been achieved in Victoria, we are the events capital, we are the sporting capital. That translates for all those people watching on around the world," he said.
Premier Ted Baillieu also backed the event, dismissing recent arguments over its future.
"Victorians have free speech and they can say what they think," Mr Baillieu said.
"I am a supporter of the Grand Prix, I have been for a long time. It's great for Melbourne and it's obviously a critical part of Melbourne's major event strategy which has been so successful for the state and the city."
Melbourne's Lord Mayor Robert Doyle wandered around the exclusive areas at the track and was seemingly defiant about his comments that sparked huge debate in the lead-up to the race.
Asked if the high-profile politics of the event had tarnished the city's international image he issued a stern one-word answer: "No."
"I think it is a great event for Melbourne," Cr Doyle said. "And I think it is important we celebrate the event we have but I think it's appropriate to have a discussion about the cost to taxpayers as well."
Sources: http://www.heraldsun.com.au
