Qualifying for the 2014 Australian Grand Prix would see the Williams Martini drivers finish in ninth and tenth with Felipe Massa leading teammate Valtteri Bottas but for Valtteri he would face a five grid place penalty due to a gearbox change prior to qualifying. Both Williams drivers had shown a good level of pace in the dry but in the wet they would suffer from a rear end instability. But as the cars formed up onto the grid it was dry but overcast as they prepared for the fifty eight lap race. On pole was Hamilton followed by Ricciardo, Rosberg, Magnussen, Alonso, Vergne, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Felipe and Button in tenth. There was a lot of discussion regarding how the drivers were going to deal with getting these 2014 cars off the grid at the start of the race. Grosjean was forced to start from the pit lane. It was expected that several drivers would come through from lower grid positions including both Williams drivers..

Everyone except Vettel and Gutierrez were on the soft tyre. It was expected that the strategy will be soft soft medium over the course of the race. The grid would move away on their parade lap, except for Chilton who did not move. He would have to be pushed off the grid while Vettel would complain of a big loss of boost pressure. Grosjean would be given a drive through penalty even before the race started for leaving his garage prior to a fifteen minute signal. The grid would form up and there would be a yellow flag waved forcing the grid to go around again. It would be the other Marussia that caused the problem by stopping on the grid. This lap would count for the race as the grid would reform and with the usual wait the lights would go out and it would be Rosberg leading but Kobayashi would take out one of the Williams that of Felipe. Valtteri was up in tenth while Rosberg continued to lead from Ricciardo, Magnussen, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Vergne, and Raikkonen eighth.

Hamilton was told that he would have to retire his car to save his engine but they then changed his mind telling him to stay out. The Caterham of Kobayashi had a very badly damaged front end. Valtteri would pass Kvyat for ninth under braking. Hamilton would pit reporting that he could feel the engine problem. Valtteri was closing in onto Vergne and would pass him and into seventh place. Vettel would pit on lap five to retire. Replays showed Kobayashi running straight into the rear of Felipe's Williams. He was also lucky not to take out Valtteri. It was announced that the incident was under investigation after the race. Valtteri was pushing hard and would pass Raikkonen to now be sixth. He would now continue to chase those in front bringing the gap down to Alonso. At the front Rosberg was now leading by 5.8 seconds after lap nine. Ricciardo was still second from Magnussen and Hulkenberg..

But for Valtteri his are would go wrong when he hit the wall with his right rear causing a puncture. The tyre would come off the rim seeing have to slow. Valtteri would pit getting a new set of tyres. Part of his rim would be left on the track seeing a safety car come out. Button would pit on lap twelve taking on another set of soft tyres. Perez would also pit but the next lap the top eight would all pit with Rosberg, Ricciardo, and Magnussen all staying on soft tyres. The track would be cleared of the debris from Valtteri's car The order was Rosberg from Ricciardo, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Button, Vergne, Raikkonen, Sutil, and Kvyat in tenth. Valtteri was now sixteenth but should have the pace to move forward. This safety car would help with the fuel saving as the race was restarted on lap sixteen. The restart would go cleanly for Rosberg with Valtteri moving up to fourteenth.

Kvyat were both on medium tyres Valtteri was able to take a few spots taking Maldonado to be eleventh. Ricciardo was told that he did not to save fuel as Rosberg extended his lead out to 4.4 seconds after lap nineteen. Hulkenberg, Alonso and Button were running close together as Valtteri passed Sutil for tenth. His next target would be Kvyat in ninth and on lap twenty five he would pass the Torro Rosso using his DRS on the start straight. Valtteri would take three seconds off Raikkonen after the Ferrari ran onto the grass whilst following Vergne. Grosjean would pit on lap twenty nine from thirteenth as Ericsson stopped his car seeing both Caterham's out of the race. Rosberg was now leading by 10.6 seconds over Ricciardo. Maldonado would pit on lap thirty as Ricciardo was told that third placed Magnussen was struggling. Maldonado would stop his car while at the from Alonso ran closely behind Hulkenberg. Button would pit on lap thirty three followed by Perez..

Lap thirty seven and Ricciardo pitted from second followed by Valtteri, Raikkonen, and Kvyat. All would take on the medium tyre as on the next lap Magnussen would pit also taking on medium tyres. The next lap Rosberg would pit from the lead also on the medium tyre as Valtteri closed in onto Vergne. On lap forty seven Valtteri was able to get past Vergne when the Torro Rosso driver made an error on the final corner seeing the Williams pass him on the main straight. This would see Valtteri now seventh and running close behind Hulkenberg. At the front Rosberg was now 23.3 seconds over Ricciardo with Magnussen right behind the Red Bull. Button was fourth followed by Alonso, and Hulkenberg. Valtteri was able to pass Hulkenberg for sixth going into Turn one.

There were five laps remaining with sixth for Valtteri looking where he would finish given he was 12 seconds behind Alonso. Ricciardo was holding off the McLaren of Magnussen as Magnussen had dropped off a bit. Raikkonen would pass Vergne for eighth place seeing the Torro Rosso's ninth and tenth. Rosberg would start his final lap in what was a dominate race performance. Rosberg would finish his lap to take victory in the 2014 Australian Grand Prix. Second would be home town favourite Ricciardo from Magnussen, Button, Alonso, Valtteri, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Vergne, and Kvyat in tenth. For their first race of the 2014 season Williams would go away with eight points which is more than they achieved in all of 2014. A great recovery from Valtteri but a massive disappointment for Felipe who was taken out in the first corner. But the race showed that Williams with their FW36 has made a major step forward over 2013.