Formula One world champion Jenson Button timed his pitstop to perfection to chalk up his first win for McLaren in a rain-affected and entertaining Australian Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Briton, a winner in Melbourne with Brawn GP last year, took the lead when Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, starting on pole position, was pitched into the gravel mid-race by a brake failure.

"It feels so good ... guys, amazing job, I think we got that pitstop pretty much perfect," Button, who went for an early change to slicks that proved crucial, shouted over the team radio after beating Renault's Robert Kubica by 12.034 seconds.

"It was the right time. Fantastic job, this is a great way to start the year."

Poland's Kubica was comfortably clear of Ferrari's Brazilian Felipe Massa, who nosed out Spanish teammate Fernando Alonso for third.

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher finished 10th for Mercedes after being effectively ruled out of the running at the first corner.

Button's left front tyre hit Alonso's right at the first turn, causing the Spaniard to spin and collide with Schumacher and break the Mercedes' front wing. Both then had to fight back from the rear.

Only 14 cars finished the race as intermittent showers made tire selection, and the timing of pitstops, a key factor on the bumpy street circuit.

The safety car made an early appearance when BMW Sauber's Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi rebounded off a barrier at turn six on the first lap, crashing into Williams's German driver Nico Hulkenberg.

Double world champion Alonso, who won on his Ferrari debut in Bahrain last week, stayed top of the standings after two races with 37 points, in front of Massa who has 33.

Button's victory allowed him to claw up to 31 in the championship race.