It seems that this year is the German Mercedes year, with one win on the first Grand Prix in Australia, they follow up with a second one here in Malaysia.
The 2014 Formula One season has finally kicked off in Australia, which is been held two weeks ago at the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit at Albert Park in Melbourne.
And today was the season second round in Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia time for the 2014 Malaysian Grand Prix.
The 29-year-old Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 star from Hertfordshire motored to a lights-to-chequered flag victory round the Sepang International Circuit near Kuala Lumpur this morning (Sunday), his first win in Malaysia. Lewis Hamilton had never won in Malaysia, until a crushing drive in Sepang on Sunday finally rectified that after an eight-year quest. The 2008 world champion was never troubled, taking the lead from pole position at the start and calmly controlling the race from Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg, who eventually finished 17.3s adrift in second. Hamilton also added fastest lap to round off a near perfect weekend.
He crossed the finish line an emphatic 17 seconds clear of Silver Arrows teammate Nico Rosberg, as Mercedes claimed a podium one-two (The Silver Arrows’ one-two enabled Rosberg to retain his championship lead, but Hamilton now jumps up to second, 18 points adrift.) – the team’s first since Juan Manuel Fangio and Piero Taruffi at the 1955 Italian Grand Prix.
It was Hamilton’s second win for Mercedes and his 23rd Formula One career victory, and one of his most commanding.
Reigning F1 world champion, Sebastian Vettel also got his title defence off the ground, but was a beaten third, 24.5s behind Hamilton. The Red Bull driver challenged Rosberg very closely on one occasion and got within a second around the 34-lap mark, but dropped back after his fellow German repelled him, and later had to ease up to save fuel. Nevertheless, he received 15 points for his afternoon’s work.
Sebastian Vettel finished third for Red Bull, but the day belonged to Hamilton, who drove a faultless race from the front of the grid – and was interviewed afterwards on the podium by Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch.
Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso took fourth place in the provisional results ahead of Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg.
Jenson Button was sixth for McLaren, with Williams’ Felipe Massa seventh. Valtteri Bottas took eighth for Williams with McLaren rookie Kevin Magnussen ninth. Daniil Kvyat completed the top 10 for Toro Rosso.
Hamilton’s victory was the 15th for the Silver Arrows in Formula One and the 101st for Mercedes-Benz power. Cars powered by Mercedes also dominated the top 10 in Sepang.
The 2014 Malaysian Grand Prix winner said: “I’m incredibly happy today. This is my first win in Malaysia after eight attempts and to do it for our Petronas family in their home country makes it even more special.
“One-two finishes don’t happen very often and this is a real achievement for the team.” Malaysian Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton Said.
“It’s all down to the team. They have done a fantastic job and I have to say a huge thank you to everyone here at the track and back at our factories who have been pushing non-stop to get the car where it is.”
Hamilton took the chequered flag with an advantage of 17 seconds and set the fastest lap of the race on lap 52. However, he said it wasn’t as comfortable as the statistics suggest.
“The race was tougher than it perhaps looked today and the conditions here always make it a great challenge,” said the 2008 F1 world champion.
“But I was able to look after the car, the tyres and the fuel and still keep a bit of pace in hand which made my job that little bit easier.”
F1 2014 Drivers’ Championship (After Malaysian Grand Prix)
- 1 Nico Rosberg 43 points
- 2 Lewis Hamilton 25
- 3 Fernando Alonso 24
- 4 Jenson Button 23
- 5 Kevin Magnussen 20
- 6 Nico Hülkenberg 18
- 7 Sebastian Vettel 15
- 8 Valtteri Bottas 14
- 9 Kimi Räikkönen 6
- 10 Felipe Massa 6
- 11 Jean-Eric Vergne 4
- 12 Daniil Kvyat 3
- 13 Sergio Perez 1
With Rosberg following up his Australian GP victory with another podium, Mercedes have overtaken McLaren in the constructors’ championship.