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Sunday, April 4, 2010

Red Bull One Two

"What a day! At the start, I realised that I had a good start past Nico. I was then able to gain on Mark; it's a long sprint down to Turn 1 and I had an advantage, so I took the chance into Turn 1 and made it through!"

Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel, wins the 2010 Formula One PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix here in Sepang after starting from third on the grid with his teammate, Mark Webber coming in Second. Nico Rosberg of the PETRONAS Mercedes GP team completes the top three finishers while Michael Schumacher, his teammate, retired early after 10 laps of the race, due to a loose wheelnut.

It was a wet qualifying on Saturday, seeing none of the Ferraris and McLarens making it to Q3. Webber starts from pole position with Nico Rosberg alongside him. Michael Schumacher only manages to set the 8th fastest while Vitantonio Liuzzi, of Team Force India completes the top 10 starters on the grid.

With the Ferrari and McLaren drivers starting low from the grid, the race in Malaysia was heated up and more exciting as they provided plenty of thrills and overtaking to recover. Felipe Massa finished 7th in the 56 laps of the Malaysian Grand Prix while Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button of the McLaren Mercedes team finishing 6th and 8th respectively.

Fernando Alonso did not managed to the chequered flag when his car's engine blew forcing him to retire on lap 55. More retirements seen at the Malaysian GP, with both drivers of Team BMW-Sauber Ferrari did not finish the race, seeing Pedro De La Rosa, did not start, while Kobayashi retired due to engine problems.

Robert Kubica yet again finished the race and scoring points both for himself and his Renault team, keeps the championship battle more competitive. He finished fourth earning himself and for the team, 12 championship points.

Jaime Alguersuari again drove an excellent race for Toro Rosso and emerged ninth rewarding him 2 points for it, with Nico Hulkenberg taking the final point for Williams, thanks to Fernando Alonso's misfortune.

The race in Malaysia dramatically closes the championship points battle. Massa now leads with 39 points, 2 points clear off teammate Alonso and rival Vettel, with button trailing at 35 points together with Rosberg and Hamilton with 31 points. The constructors' stakes Ferrari still leading with 76 points, but McLaren, now have 66 points, Red Bull 61, Mercedes 44 and Renault 30.

Click here for the Malaysian Grand Prix's selected team and driver quotes.