Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton has been promoted to third place in the Australian Grand Prix after Toyota's Jarno Trulli was found to have overtaken him under yellow flags in the closing stages of the race.

Stewards imposed a 25 second penalty on Trulli, who moves to 12th place.

Meanwhile, Red Bull were fined $50,000 and driver Sebastian Vettel demoted 10 places on the starting grid at the next race after he caused a collision while fighting for second place at the Australian Grand Prix.

Stewards ruled that the German had forced BMW-Sauber's Robert Kubica off the track three laps from the finish in an incident that ended Formula One's season-opening race for both drivers.

The German continued on the track with one front wheel hanging uselessly off his car in a doomed attempt to stay in the race.

The stewards fined Red Bull for instructing him to continue on the circuit.

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