Sebastian Vettel showed again that form is temporary and class permanent when the four-times world champion put in a faultless display to record his first victory for Ferrari at the Malaysian Grand Prix yesterday.

The triumph ended a long drought for F1’s most successful team, whose last win was at the Spanish GP in 2013, and was the 40th of the German’s career.

Starting from second place on the grid behind Lewis Hamilton’s seemingly unbeatable Mercedes, Vettel and Ferrari produced a tactical masterclass to overhaul the Briton and cross the line 8.5 seconds ahead of the double world champion.

“Numero uno is back, Ferrari is back,” Vettel was told over the team radio as he took the chequered flag.

“Grazie, grazie. Forza Ferrari” he shouted in reply as he celebrated his fourth win at Sepang, a circuit that has favoured the Italian team over the years with seven victories in 17 editions since 1999.

Hamilton’s team-mate Nico Rosberg finished a distant third while 17-year-old Max Verstappen claimed seventh place for Toro Rosso to become the youngest ever points scorer in Formula One.

Mercedes dominated last season and when Hamilton led a one-two in Australia two weeks ago the rest of the field looked even further behind in the second year of the V6 hybrid engines.

Vettel had cut a forlorn figure in his last season at Red Bull in 2014, unable to record a victory and way off the pace of the front runners. He agreed to join a stuttering Ferrari last year, replacing Fernando Alonso, and the union appears to have revitalised them both.

Third in Australia, though some way behind Mercedes, Vettel and Ferrari showed real potential in practice and qualifying and were able to carry that momentum forward into the race.

The race turned in Ferrari’s favour when Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson spun off at the start of lap four to bring out the safety car.

While Mercedes pulled both their cars into the pits to put on hard tyres, Vettel stayed out on the medium compound and made the lead stick until the end of the race as Mercedes were unable to rein him in.

The Ferrari crew celebrate with Vettel (centre) at the pit.

“It has been a while since I’ve been on top step and obviously the first time with Ferrari,” Vettel said.

“I’m speechless. I’m happy and proud of today. We beat them fair and square and it is a special day – that is why I am emotional.”

His Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen overcame a tough qualifying session and an early puncture to finish fourth, well clear of Williams pair Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa.

Vettel, who finished fifth in the standings last year after four successive titles, has now won races for three separate teams – Toro Rosso, Red Bull and Ferrari.

Hamilton was magnanimous in defeat after a frustrating drive in which he often struggled to understand team strategy and orders over the radio.

“Huge congratulations to Ferrari and Sebastian... I gave it everything I could but their pace was excellent,” the Briton said.

“We knew that Ferrari had made a step but didn’t know how big, they were too quick today.”

McLaren put a positive spin on a poor day as both Fernando Alonso, back in action after missing the season-opener following a pre-season crash, and Jenson Button retired from the race.

Result at Sepang Circuit

Fastest lap: Nico Rosberg, 1:42.062, lap 43.
Next race: Chinese GP, April 12.

Championship standings

Drivers
1. Hamilton 43 points; 2. Vettel 40; 3. Rosberg 33; 4. Massa 20; 5. Raikkonen 12; 6. Nasr 10; 7. Bottas 10; 8. Ricciardo 9; 9. Huelkenberg 6; 10. Verstappen 6; 11. Sainz 6; 12. Ericsson 4; 13. Kvyat 2; 14. Perez 1.

Constructors
1. Mercedes 76 points; 2. Ferrari 52; 3. Williams – Mercedes 30; 4. Sauber – Ferrari 14; 5. Toro Rosso – Renault 12; 6. RedBull – Renault 11; 7. Force India – Mercedes 7.