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24th
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Sebastian Vettel won the Malaysian Grand prix under controversial conditions from teammate Mark Webber and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton.
The Red Bull drivers had allegedly agreed to hold position after the fourth and final round of pitstops with Webber leading and Vettel second.
However, in an action that supposedly ‘needed explaining' after the race, the current world champion challenged Webber, and in the final stages pulled ahead and claimed his 38th career victory by 4.2 seconds.
Red Bull was not the only team to be hit by controversy in the Sepang heat. The Mercedes of Hamilton and Rosberg finished third and fourth respectively, despite the German driver believing that by the end of the race he had a clear pace advantage which was played out over the radio in an entertaining exchange with team boss Ross Brawn in the race's closing stages.
Ferrari after displaying impressive pace yesterday were also not free of problems. Fernando Alonso was up to second by the first corner from the start but tapped Vettel's Red Bull at Turn 2 and damaged the front wing of the car; within a few corners, the Spaniard had slid into the gravel with a shattered front wing and became the first high profile retirement of the race.
Alonso now lies 22 points behind Vettel in the driver's championship.
The race's opening stages were characterized by a wet start and Vettel and Webber running first and second after the Australian made an uncharacteristically good start off the line. The two cars switched positions after Vettel pitted too early for slicks, handing the advantage to Webber.
The Red Bull team's pit decisions allowed for Hamilton to capitalize on the brewing inter-team battle, with the Mercedes at that point seemingly capable of challenging the blue cars for a victory.
Hamilton's pace led to Vettel - who had dropped behind his teammate - making the bizarre “Mark is too slow, get him out of the way. He is too slow” claim over the radio, after Webber was in front and clearly held a pace advantage at this point.
Red Bull's race now echoed Turkey 2010, with anxious faces on the team's pitwall after Vettel made his final pitstop that now put him on the tail of his teammate after he emerged.
In a clear contravention of team orders, Vettel challenged Webber for a few laps after the team had turned the engines down and issued the “multi 21” directive, a term believed to mean “hold station” within the Red Bull camp. The rest of the race saw Webber drop back, and Vettel claim a win that puts him level with Sir Jackie Stewart in terms of wins.
Amidst the controversy, Felipe Massa finished fifth for Ferrari after a difficult Grand Prix, with the Lotus' of Grosjean and Raikkonen finishing sixth and seventh. Hulkenberg, Perez and Vergne rounded out the top-10 with each driver opening their 2013 points account.
McLaren also showed improved pace with Jenson Button on course for fifth until a loose front wheel forced the 2009 world champion to stop in the pit-lane and wait for two minutes for the mechanics to retrieve the stricken car.
Jules Bianchi once again repaid Marussia's faith in him by finishing 13th making him once again the best of the backmarkers ahead of the two Caterhams and teammate Chilton who was classified as 22nd and last.
Race results* - Malaysian Grand Prix (Kuala Lampur)
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 56 laps 1.38'56"681
2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 4"298
3 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 12"181
4 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 12"640
5 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 25"648
6 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 35"564
7 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 48"479
8 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 53"044
9 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'12"357
10 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'27"124
11 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'28"610
12 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1 lap
13 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1 lap
14 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1 lap
15 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1 lap
16 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 2 laps
Fastest lap: 1'39"199 (Sergio Perez)
Retirements
Lap 1 - Fernando Alonso
Lap 2 - Paul Di Resta
Lap 27 - Adrian Sutil
Lap 45 - Pastor Maldonado
Lap 51 - Daniel Ricciardo
Lap 53 - Jenson Button
Drivers' championship
1.Vettel 40; 2.Raikkonen 31; 3.Webber 26; 4.Hamilton 25; 5.Massa 22; 6.Alonso 18; 7.Rosberg 12; 8.Grosjean 9; 9.Sutil 6; 10.Di Resta, Hulkenberg 4; 12.Button, Perez 2; 14.Vergne 1.
Constructors' championship
1.Red Bull-Renault 66; 2.Lotus-Renault, Ferrari 40; 4.Mercedes 37; 5.Force India-Mercedes 10; 6.McLaren-Mercedes, Sauber-Ferrari 4; 8.Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1
*Unofficial
The Red Bull drivers had allegedly agreed to hold position after the fourth and final round of pitstops with Webber leading and Vettel second.
 |
| The start of a wet/dry Malaysian GP (Photo: WRi2) |
However, in an action that supposedly ‘needed explaining' after the race, the current world champion challenged Webber, and in the final stages pulled ahead and claimed his 38th career victory by 4.2 seconds.
Red Bull was not the only team to be hit by controversy in the Sepang heat. The Mercedes of Hamilton and Rosberg finished third and fourth respectively, despite the German driver believing that by the end of the race he had a clear pace advantage which was played out over the radio in an entertaining exchange with team boss Ross Brawn in the race's closing stages.
 |
| Nico Rosberg uselessly chassing down Lewis Hamilton (Photo: WRi2) |
Ferrari after displaying impressive pace yesterday were also not free of problems. Fernando Alonso was up to second by the first corner from the start but tapped Vettel's Red Bull at Turn 2 and damaged the front wing of the car; within a few corners, the Spaniard had slid into the gravel with a shattered front wing and became the first high profile retirement of the race.
Alonso now lies 22 points behind Vettel in the driver's championship.
 |
| Fernando Alonso's first lap in Malaysia was also his last (Photo: WRi2) |
The race's opening stages were characterized by a wet start and Vettel and Webber running first and second after the Australian made an uncharacteristically good start off the line. The two cars switched positions after Vettel pitted too early for slicks, handing the advantage to Webber.
The Red Bull team's pit decisions allowed for Hamilton to capitalize on the brewing inter-team battle, with the Mercedes at that point seemingly capable of challenging the blue cars for a victory.
Hamilton's pace led to Vettel - who had dropped behind his teammate - making the bizarre “Mark is too slow, get him out of the way. He is too slow” claim over the radio, after Webber was in front and clearly held a pace advantage at this point.
 |
| Mark Webber leading Sebastian Vettel reminescent of Turkey 2010 (Photo: WRi2) |
Red Bull's race now echoed Turkey 2010, with anxious faces on the team's pitwall after Vettel made his final pitstop that now put him on the tail of his teammate after he emerged.
In a clear contravention of team orders, Vettel challenged Webber for a few laps after the team had turned the engines down and issued the “multi 21” directive, a term believed to mean “hold station” within the Red Bull camp. The rest of the race saw Webber drop back, and Vettel claim a win that puts him level with Sir Jackie Stewart in terms of wins.
Amidst the controversy, Felipe Massa finished fifth for Ferrari after a difficult Grand Prix, with the Lotus' of Grosjean and Raikkonen finishing sixth and seventh. Hulkenberg, Perez and Vergne rounded out the top-10 with each driver opening their 2013 points account.
McLaren also showed improved pace with Jenson Button on course for fifth until a loose front wheel forced the 2009 world champion to stop in the pit-lane and wait for two minutes for the mechanics to retrieve the stricken car.
Jules Bianchi once again repaid Marussia's faith in him by finishing 13th making him once again the best of the backmarkers ahead of the two Caterhams and teammate Chilton who was classified as 22nd and last.
 |
| Three happy clams on the podium (Photo: WRi2) |
Race results* - Malaysian Grand Prix (Kuala Lampur)
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 56 laps 1.38'56"681
2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 4"298
3 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 12"181
4 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 12"640
5 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 25"648
6 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 35"564
7 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 48"479
8 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 53"044
9 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'12"357
10 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'27"124
11 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'28"610
12 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1 lap
13 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1 lap
14 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1 lap
15 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1 lap
16 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 2 laps
Fastest lap: 1'39"199 (Sergio Perez)
Retirements
Lap 1 - Fernando Alonso
Lap 2 - Paul Di Resta
Lap 27 - Adrian Sutil
Lap 45 - Pastor Maldonado
Lap 51 - Daniel Ricciardo
Lap 53 - Jenson Button
Drivers' championship
1.Vettel 40; 2.Raikkonen 31; 3.Webber 26; 4.Hamilton 25; 5.Massa 22; 6.Alonso 18; 7.Rosberg 12; 8.Grosjean 9; 9.Sutil 6; 10.Di Resta, Hulkenberg 4; 12.Button, Perez 2; 14.Vergne 1.
Constructors' championship
1.Red Bull-Renault 66; 2.Lotus-Renault, Ferrari 40; 4.Mercedes 37; 5.Force India-Mercedes 10; 6.McLaren-Mercedes, Sauber-Ferrari 4; 8.Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1
*Unofficial