2007 Formula One World Champion Kimi Raikkonen again showed the pace that helped to win his title, finishing with a dominating victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Ferraris of both Raikkonen and teammate Felipe Massa were well ahead for the first half of the race, when Massa inexplicably spun into the gravel on turn eight of lap thirty. Massa’s spin gave a big helping hand to BMW Sauber’s Robert Kubica, who managed his first podium finish since Monza in 2006 by taking second place.
Points leader Lewis Hamilton made good early progress, moving from a ninth place start to fifth after the first corner of the race, only to spend a long period stymied by Red Bull’s Mark Webber. Hamilton’s best chance to jump ahead of the Australian driver was foiled when a sticky front wheel removal cost him more than ten seconds on his first pit stop.
PROVISIONAL RACE RESULTS
The Malaysian Grand Prix
Sepang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
56 laps; 310.408km;
Weather: Sunny.
Classified:
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1h31:18.555
2. Kubica BMW Sauber (B) + 19.570
3. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 38.450
4. Trulli Toyota (B) + 45.832
5. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) + 46.548
6. Heidfeld BMW Sauber (B) + 49.833
7. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) + 1:08.130
8. Alonso Renault (B) + 1:10.041
9. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault (B) + 1:16.220
10. Button Honda (B) + 1:26.214
11. Piquet Renault (B) + 1:32.202
12. Fisichella Force India-Ferrari (B) + 1 lap
13. Barrichello Honda (B) + 1 lap
14. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) + 1 lap
15. Davidson Super Aguri-Honda (B) + 1 lap
16. Sato Super Aguri-Honda (B) + 2 laps
17. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) + 2 laps
Fastest lap: Heidfeld, 1:35.366
Not classified/retirements:
Driver Team On lap
Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 41
Massa Ferrari (B) 31
Sutil Force India-Ferrari (B) 7
Glock Toyota (B) 2
Bourdais Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1
World Championship standings, round 2:
Drivers: Constructors:
1. Hamilton 14 1. McLaren-Mercedes 24
2. Raikkonen 11 2. BMW Sauber 19
3. Heidfeld 11 3. Ferrari 11
4. Kovalainen 10 4. Williams-Toyota 9
5. Kubica 8 5. Renault 6
6. Rosberg 6 6. Toyota 5
7. Alonso 6 7. Red Bull-Renault 2
8. Trulli 5 8. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 2
9. Nakajima 3
10. Webber 2
11. Bourdais 2
All timing unofficial