Vettel keeps cool to lead a Red Bull one-two

SEBASTIAN VETTEL kept his cool in the sweltering heat as he put the troubles that have plagued his start to the season behind him to secure a deserved victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix yesterday.

The 22-year-old German had found himself the victim of reliability issues that have hampered his Red Bull in the opening two races this year, with a spark plug problem and then a wheel issue seeing him surrender pole in both Bahrain and Australia.

Vettel lined up in the second row on the Sepang circuit yesterday with team-mate Mark Webber on pole and Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg second on the grid.

But he was quick off the mark as he surged passed Rosberg and then traded places with Webber on the first couple of turns before eventually building a dominant advantage and leading a Red Bull one-two ahead of Webber.

“It is a very good result for us, especially after the first two races where we did not finish where we wanted to,” said Vettel.

“I thank the team as it was crucial not to panic and to stay relaxed as it is a long season.

“Sitting here on Sunday afternoon having secured first place is the best result we can get and on top of that Mark getting second place is a big plus for the team. I am very, very happy.”

Webber, meanwhile, was not too disappointed to have been denied victory and instead acknowledged it was a deserved win for Vettel.

“We know these days with the strategy and the way the race unfolds the first part of race is crucial,” said the Australian. “It was a good fight today but he deserved the victory.

“First and second is sensational. It has been a tough few races where clearly we didn’t finish where we should, so coming to the weekend, you will take this kind of result.

“I would like to be one step further up, but we executed a perfect weekend.”

McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton was also all smiles afterwards after climbing from near the back of the grid to finish comfortably inside the points.

A strategic error in qualifying on Saturday saw the 2008 champion and team-mate Jenson Button fall out in the first phase after waiting too long to set a first timed lap.

Consequently, Hamilton lined up 20th with Button 17th but both drove superbly to battle through the field and finish sixth and eighth, respectively.

Button spent the vast majority of his race in a battle with the Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso.

Massa eventually got the better of the reigning world champion to claim seventh but Alonso suffered engine failure when trying to pass the Briton late on to bring an end to his race.

“Felipe (Massa) eventually got past. Fernando (Alonso) tried a couple of times – the last time he went really deep into turn one, but I managed to re-pass him on the exit – and then suddenly his engine was gone,” said Button.

“I don’t know what happened to him, but we had a good fight.

“I didn’t realise that fighting for eighth was going to be so difficult. However, it’s good to get some points.”

It was a race to forget for seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher after the 41-year-old lost a wheel nut on his Mercedes which forced him to retire after lap 10.