Cool Vettel maintains perfect start

World champion Sebastian Vettel dominated the Malaysian Grand Prix yesterday with a brilliant drive which maintained his perfect start to the season.

The 23-year-old 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.

“In the heat, we kept our heads cool,” the jubilant Vettel told the Red Bull crew on his victory lap.

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 team-mate 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 Lewis Hamilton’s McLaren, suffering a broken front wing that required a pit stop.

Hamilton, the 2008 champion, looked set for a podium spot but finished seventh after a slow pit stop and a struggle with worn tyres in the closing stages.

The Briton was later handed a 20-second penalty for defending his position with more than one change of direction, pushing him down from seventh to eighth. As a result, Japanese Kamui Kobayashi, of Sauber, moved up one position in the final order to seventh, swapping places with Hamilton.

Hamilton and Alonso were both called to appear before the race stewards following their collision when they were fighting for third place on lap 46.

Alonso was also given a 20-second penalty for causing a collision, but because of Hamilton’s punishment from the stewards it had no effect on his position in the result.

But, the day certainly belonged to Vettel who has now won the season’s first two races in Australia and Malaysia – and five of the last six – to take charge of the 19-stop championship and establish himself as the outstanding driver of the moment.

Yesterday’s victory was hard-earned in the soaring heat and humidity of Sepang International Circuit, and after Vettel 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,” Vettel said. “So we know we have to do a lot of work now to stay there.”

He said the loss of KERS after 29 laps was “not according to plan” but was relieved his equipment had worked at the start. “It would have been a completely different race otherwise,” Vettel admitted.

The German came home 3.2 seconds ahead of Button and 25 seconds clear of Heidfeld, who is deputising for the injured Robert Kubica after a rallying crash and claimed his first podium in two years.

Heidfeld enjoyed a dazzling start when he shot from sixth in the grid into provisional second place behind Vettel.

Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher was ninth for Mercedes. Tenth-placed British rookie Paul Di Resta scored another point for Force India in only his second start.

On a typically steamy day in Malaysia, the track temperature was 31 degrees at the start in 83 per cent humidity.

Vettel made a smooth start, pulling clear of the pack as Hamilton, on the dirtier side of the circuit, struggled to retain second place and, running into turns one and two, was passed on the outside by Heidfeld.

At the same time, Webber was beset by problems as his car suffered a pre-race KERS failure and cost him seven places at the start.

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner paid tribute to a nerveless performance from Vettel, who is still only 23.

“I think Sebastian was the coolest guy out there – his composure, the way he controlled the race, the way he looked after his tyres,” Horner said.

“We had options to do three or four stops, and he gave us those options – it was a mature drive.

“We forget he’s just 23 years old – he can only just rent a hire car! He’s gaining more experience and just continues to get better.”

Malaysian GP results

1. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) - 1hr 37:39.832
2. Jenson Button (McLaren) at 3.261
3. Nick Heidfeld (Lotus-Renault) at 25.075
4. Mark Webber (Red Bull) at 26.384
5. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) at 36.958
6. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) at 57.248
7. Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) at 1:06.439
8. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) at 1:09.957
9. Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) at 1:24.896
10. Paul Di Resta (Force India) at 1:31.563
11. Adrian Sutil (Force India) at 1:41.379
12. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) at 1 lap
13. Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso) at 1 lap
14. Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) at 1 lap
15. Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus) at 1 lap
16. Timo Glock (Virgin Racing) at 2 laps
17. Vitaly Petrov (Lotus-Renault) at 4 laps

Retired
Vitantonio Liuzzi (HRT-Cosworth) - 46 laps
Jerome d’Ambrosio (Virgin-Cosworth) - 42 laps
Jarno Trulli (Lotus-Renault) - 31 laps
Sergio Perez (Sauber) - 23 laps
Rubens Barrichello (Williams-Cosworth) - 22 laps
Narain Karthikeyan (HRT-Cosworth) - 14 laps
Pastor Maldonado (Williams) - 8 laps

Fastest lap: Webber (Red Bull), 1:40.571.
Next race: Chinese GP, April 17.

Overall standings

Drivers
1. Vettel 50 pts; 2. Button 26; 3. Hamilton 22; 4. Webber 22; 5. Alonso 20; 6. Massa 16; 7. Heidfeld 15; 8. Petrov 15; 9. Kobayashi 6; 10. Buemi 4; 11. Sutil 2; 12. Schumacher 2; 13. Di Resta 2.

Constructors
1. Red Bull 72 pts; 2. McLaren 48; 3. Ferrari 36; 4. Lotus-Renault 30; 5. Sauber 6; 6. Toro Rosso 4; 7. Force India 4; 8. Mercedes GP 2.