F1: Vettel Seals The Deal In Malaysia

Formula 1

F1: Vettel Seals The Deal In Malaysia

The reliability questions about Red Bull have been answered...

SPEED Staff | Posted April 04, 2010 Sepang (MAS)

Sebastian Vettel has been strong in qualifying this season. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

Malaysian GP Results

Sebastian Vettel was finally able to seal the deal to win the Malaysian Grand Prix Sunday.

After not finishing the first two races of the season, Vettel put together a brilliant race passing both Nico Rosberg and his Red Bull teammate as well as pole sitter Mark Webber on the first corner of the first lap and charge to victory.

Red Bull Racing needed to capitalize on the disastrous starts of the championship leaders and that’s exactly what they did as Webber was able to hold on for second. Rosberg meanwhile came home third for his first podium of the year and the first for the rebranded Mercedes team. Robert Kubica was fourth with Adrian Sutil fifth.

For Rosberg’s famous teammate Michael Schumacher the day was a bust as he lost a rear wheel nut early in the race and was forced to retire, he was scored 21st.

While Vettel was able to keep his lead up front, a great battle shaped up in the top ten behind him right at the start of the race.

Malaysia became the second Asian race after Japan in 1999. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

With both Ferrari’s and the McLaren team relegated to poor starts after a terrible qualifying effort Saturday, it was a four car run to the front in the opening laps led be Lewis Hamilton who started 20th. He was soon joined by his teammate Jenson Button, with Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso close behind.

Hamilton made it as far as sixth before meeting resistance from Adrian Sutil. Behind them, Button held off Massa. While Alonso’s F10 developed a downshifting problem and he did a heroic job of driving to keep pace.

Button was the first in for pit stops and new tires. But unlike last week’s Australian Grand Prix the early tire change didn’t work out and Massa was finally able to get around as Button’s tires began to fade. As Massa began to try and reel in Hamilton, Alonso began working towards Button.

Alonso was able to catch Button with two laps to go and tried to pass heading into turn 1 but was too fast entering the corner and forced to lock his brakes. The engine then began to smoke and with only a lap and a half to go, the engine finally let go and Alonso was forced to park, he finished 13th.

Hamilton held onto sixth as Massa was never able to quite catch him, the Ferrari driver finished seventh.

Button was eighth, Jamie Alguersuari scored his career best ninth as did Nico Hulkenberg in tenth.

Alonso joined Schumacher and five other drivers who retired early.

With Alonso’s problems Massa took over the points lead with Vettel leaping up to second. Button and Rosberg round out the top five behind Alonso.

With the win by Red Bull, the race marks the first time since 1990 that three different constructors have won the first three races.

Malaysian GP Results