World Champion Sebastian Vettel dominated the Malaysian Grand Prix with a brilliant drive which maintained his perfect start to the season.
The German steered his Red Bull car from pole position to the chequered flag to win ahead of McLaren’s Jenson Button, the 2009 champion, and Nick Heidfeld who finished third for Renault. Vettel’s second start-to-finish win in two outings this year came despite further problems with Red Bull’s faulty Kinetic Energy Regeneration System (KERS) which gave his teammate Mark Webber a nightmare start.
The Australian dropped from third to 10th before storming back to finish fourth ahead of the Ferraris of Brazilian Felipe Massa and two-time champion Fernando Alonso. Alonso suffered damage to his car in a late charge for the podium when he collided with the rear of Briton Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren, suffering a broken front-wing that required a pit stop.
Hamilton, who had originally finished seventh, was handed a 20-second penalty for defending his position with more than one change of direction, pushing him down to eighth. Alonso appeared to drive into Hamilton’s McLaren, which resulted in the Ferrari driver also being given a 20-second penalty for causing the collision, but because of the Briton’s punishment it had no effect on his position in the result.
Hamilton, the 2008 champion, looked set for a podium spot before the collision and a struggle with worn tyres held him back.
Hamilton disappointed
The Briton was clearly disappointed at the outcome. “It was tough, one of those days for me,” said Hamilton. “But I have to take it on the chin and get on with it.”
Two in two for Vettel
Vettel has now won the season’s first two races in Australia and Malaysia to establish himself as the outstanding driver of the moment.
Yesterday’s victory was hard-won in soaring heat and humidity and after the German lost the KERS overdrive system mid-way through the 56-lap race.
“It was a lot closer this time than it was in the first race, but we are still just in front,” said Vettel. “So we know we have a lot of work now to stay there.”
Vettel admitted that the loss of KERS was “not according to plan” but was relieved his equipment had worked at the start, otherwise “it would have been a completely different race.” He came home 3.2 seconds ahead of Button and 25 seconds clear of Heidfeld.
Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber was ninth ahead of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher for Mercedes.
Vettel moves to 50 points in the drivers’ championship with Button second on 26, Hamilton on 22 and Webber also on 22. In the constructors’ standings, Red Bull lead with 72 points ahead of McLaren on 48.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 11th, 2011.
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