April 04, 2010

Australia's Mark Webber has rounded out a Red Bull one-two the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix, finishing second to German teammate Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel took the chequered flag in dry conditions ahead Webber with Nico Rosberg in a Mercedes third.

Reigning world champion Jenson Button, who won the second race of the season in Australia, finished eighth in his McLaren-Mercedes.

As the anticipated tropical downpour failed to materialise, the 56-lap race was run in dry conditions that were clearly to the Red Bulls' liking as they streaked clear from the start to dominate an intriguing contest.

Vettel took the lead on lap one when he outpaced his teammate and, apart from short periods during the pit-stops, stayed there to the chequered flag.

It was his sixth career win and lifted him into contention for the title after he and Webber had suffered car failings and disappointment in the season opening Bahrain and Australia races.

Vettel had pole for both of those races but failed to take advantage.

"It was anything but comfortable," Vettel said of a race driven in dry conditions, but searing tropical heat.

"I had a great start and a big battle with Mark and I just made it. We have big respect for each other and we had a great fight. It was so hot I was hoping it would rain.

"It was a great race for us, for the team, and a great result for the team after the last two races when we just didn't get the results we wanted."

Webber, clearly disappointed, stood with hands on hips on the podium, but shrugged aside his feelings.

"I had some wheel-spin at the start and I didn't know where Nico (Rosberg) was either," he said.

"We had a chat before it started and (team boss) Christian Horner said 'behave yourselves' which we did, but the spirit in this team is awesome.

"It was a great fight and a one-two is sensational for the team after those first two races where we didn't get what we deserved."

German Nico Rosberg, who started second on the grid behind Webber, came home third for the new Mercedes team, but his celebrated 41-year-old teammate Michael Schumacher retired having lost a wheel nut after only eight laps.

Poland's Robert Kubica was fourth for Renault, another fine result after his second place in Melbourne, ahead of German Adrian Sutil of Force India.

Sutil held off Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren in a close duel for much of the race.

Hamilton finished sixth, after starting 20th, following an exhilarating drive through the field which left him fending off a chasing Brazilian Felipe Massa of Ferrari in the final laps.

Massa was seventh, Button was eighth and Spaniard Jaime Alguerasurari ninth for Toro Rosso ahead of rookie Nico Hulkenberg in a Williams who claimed his first point in Formula One.

Almost amazingly, after Saturday's tropical storms that disrupted qualifying, the race was run in dry conditions and searing heat.

"Well done boys, thank you all, thank you boys," shrieked a relieved Vettel on his slowing down lap.

"What a fantastic car."

Two-times world champion Fernando Alonso pushed hard to claim points after starting close to the back of the field with Hamilton, Button and Massa, but his engine blew in the final laps.

F1 Drivers Ladder
1 Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 39
2 Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 37
3 Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull 37
4 Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren 35
5 Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes GP 35
6 Lewis Hamilton (GBR) McLaren 31
7 Robert Kubica (POL) Renault 30
8 Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull 24
9 Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India 10
10 Michael Schumacher (GER) Mercedes GP 9
11 Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) Force India 8
12 Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Williams 5
13 Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) Toro Rosso 2
14 Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Williams 1
15 Sebastien Buemi (SUI) Toro Rosso 0
16 Pedro de la Rosa (ESP) BMW Sauber 0
17 Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) McLaren 0
18 Karun Chandhok (IND) HRTF1 0
19 Lucas di Grassi (BRA) Virgin 0
20 Bruno Senna (BRA) HRTF1 0
21 Jarno Trulli (ITA) Lotus 0
22 Timo Glock (GER) Virgin 0
23 Vitaly Petrov (RUS) Renault 0
24 Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) BMW Sauber 0

Team Pts
1 Ferrari 76
2 McLaren 66
3 Red Bull 61
4 Mercedes GP 44
5 Renault 30
6 Force India 18
7 Williams 6
8 Toro Rosso 2
9 BMW Sauber 0
10 Lotus 0
11 HRTF1 0
12 Virgin 0