Red Bull Racing took more honours in Malaysia after Sebastian Vettel, the reigning world champion drove home to the chequered flag in Sepang over the weekend. This was seen as a remarkable achievement for Red Bull and particularly for the driver who also won the Australian Grand Prix a fortnight ago.
Vettel started the race at pole and led for most of the 56 lap race which was dry throughout. The final top 3 result was the same as Melbourne in terms of constructors which apart from Vettel, were finished by their other drivers. Where Lewis Hamilton finished second in Australia, it was Jenson Button’s turn while Lotus Renault who finished third in the last round through Vitaly Petrov was represented by Nick Heidfeld.
Heidfeld, who was a last minute replaced for Lotus Renault took home the honours of finishing in the podium at its ‘home’ race did an excellent job despite finishing with worn tyres where he managed to keep his head while fending off numerous attacks from Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber who eventually succumbed to fourth while fifth and sixth places were taken by Ferrari’s Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso respectively.
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton was well placed to finish on the podium and repeat his record in Australia had not he collided with Alonso in the dying minutes of the race, forcing him to pit late and only completing in seventh place. Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber was eighth while 7 time world champion Michael Schumacher seemed to be continuing his results from last season when he finished ninth. Paul di Resta of Force India came in tenth.
The race began with all cars scrambling for positions and it looked almost too good for Lotus Renault who climbed up the standings and even had a few seconds on second and third but eventually saw them settling behind with Vettel maintaining the lead, Heidfeld on second and Hamilton on third. That was the order of the day if not for the squabble between Hamilton and Alonso who then gifted the third place to away on a platter. With 2 back-to-back wins for Vettel, it all looks good and well for Red Bull as they head towards the next race and on course to defending their world and constructor’s titles respectively. Still, the season is too early and anything can happen but with a good and reliable car, albeit a fast one, Vettel seemed to be on the verge of re-writing history.
