We all knew we were in for an exiting spectacle as the 2014 F1 season kicked off down under, whether it was from a performance and reliability POV or whether the racing would be close enough to be considered exciting. Thankfully, the 2014 Australian Grand Prix lived up to expectations, with four retirements in the first four laps, including two main title contenders in Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel.

What we didn’t expect was such a sterling show from the new bloods. Partnering former world champ, McLaren’s Jenson Button, young Dane, Kevin Magnussen managed to both out qualify and out race the experienced Brit. In race trim, Magnussen was not only fast, but he managed to keep Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull honest throughout most of the race. To everyone’s pleasure (apart from the Aussies), he even started to reel Ricciardo in during the closing laps. 21-year-old “Kev” managed to be the first Dane to step up onto an F1 podium – because of Ricciardo’s eventual disqualification from second place for breaking a fuel regulation, Magnussen also took the highest placed debutant since Canadian Jacques Villeneuve in 1996.

Russian rookie, Daniil Kvyat managed to prove his critics wrong about Toro Rosso’s controversial decision to select him by grabbing ninth place to become F1’s youngest points scorer. At 19 years, 10 months and 18 days, the Toro Rosso driver beat the previous record set by Sebastian in 2007. He finished the race in tenth place, one behind his more experienced teammate, Jean-Eric Vergne; however, after Ricciardo’s disqualification, everyone jumped up a place.

Ricciardo isn’t a rookie, but he is young and new to Red Bull this season. The 24-year-old Aussie took second on the grid in qualifying and drove an exceptional race to maintain the position. His four-time world champion teammate, Vettel, didn’t even make Q3.

It’s a shame Ricciardo was disqualified for something outside of his control, and it’s a shame we didn’t get to see Vettel and Hamilton race, but one thing I do know: the top boys have all been warned and the under dogs aren’t going to just roll over.

I think we’re in for a bit of a corker this season.