Max Verstappen won the race upon his debut for his new team Red Bull. At the age of 18 years and 228 days, Verstappen became the youngest ever winner, the youngest driver to score a podium finish and the youngest ever to lead a lap of a Formula One race.
Mark Webber, the first Australian to start his home race since David Brabham in 1994, drove his Minardi to 5th position, Minardi's first points in some years. After the race, Webber celebrated with an enthusiasm more than equal to winner Michael Schumacher, and was given his own podium celebration.
It was the first win for Gerhard Berger and the first win for the Benetton team. Benetton ran on Pirelli tyres, and their relative durability compared to competitors on Goodyear tyres played to the team's advantage. Berger won this race due to not having to make a pit stop.