Brilliant Vettel thumps Mercedes in Malaysian heat

Sebastian Vettel powered his Ferrari to victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix, trouncing the dominant Mercedes team in the process and returning the legendary Italian marque to the top step of the podium for the first time since Barcelona 2013 and with it cementing the Maurizio Arrivabane led new era at Maranello.

It was a huge result for Vettel, his 40th grand prix victory, his fourth at Sepang, his first since Brazil 2013 and perhaps most significantly his first as a Ferrari driver. The cherry on the cake for the German must have been when he powered past to lap the two Red Bulls in the final stages of the race

For the Italian outfit the triumph justifies the winter revolution which saw Sergio Marchionne take control of the team, ousting Luca di Montezemolo and wielding the axe as Marlboro man Arrivabene rode in to take over the reigns. The rewards have come sooner than most anticipated.

It is also the first victory for Ferrari's new era V6 turbo power unit, and the first race in over a year where Mercedes were beaten fair and square during a grand prix - although some will argue that the Mercedes strategists got their sums wrong on this hot day in Malaysia.

The result will no doubt inject new interest in this year's Formula 1 championship contest as two weeks earlier, at the season opener in Melbourne it appeared that the year may well become another season of Silver Arrows domination. And for it to be broken by the sport's most popular team is a script not even Bernie Ecclestone would have dared to conjure.

Vettel said on the podium, "Last year was not a good year for me, it was a great car but I struggled to extract performance from it. This car suits me very well. It has been a while since I've been on top step and obviously the first time with Ferrari. I'm speechless. I'm happy and proud of today. We beat them fair and square and it is a special day - that is why I am emotional."

"It was a big change last year but the team welcomed me from the very first day. When the gate opened at Maranello it was like a dream come true. The last time I was there I watched Michael Schumacher over the fence and now I'm driving that red car," added the Ferrari driver.

On a day where they showed the first chink in their armour, Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg appeared bewildered, if not shell shocked, as they entered the pre-podium room and then alighted onto the podium itself.

During the race Hamilton questioned his team's decision to put him on the harder tyres for his last stint and was audibly irate as it dawned on him that victory had escaped him this time around.

Nevertheless he was magnanimous afterwards, "Huge congratulations to Ferrari and Sebastian - I gave it everything I could but their pace was excellent. We knew that Ferrari had made a step but didn't know how big - they were too quick today."

Rosberg, who was on the back foot from the moment he had to queue briefly behind his teammate when they all rushed into the pits for a tyre change when the safety car came out, eventually finished third and said afterwards, "All I can say on behalf of my team is 'game on Ferrari'. Not sure about exact details of our strategy - it was complex out there. I'm sure we did a good job. But congratulations to Sebastian."

Final word to Ferrari technical director James Allison who has been instrumental in the team's turnaround, "After the difficulties of last year, the amount of effort that has gone in to try turn it around is extraordinary. This sport is mainly misery, then now and again you get an incredible rush which makes all the misery well worth it. It makes you feel utterly fantastic."

Crowning a strong day for Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen overcame a tough qualifying session and an early puncture to finish fourth, well clear of Williams pair Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa.

Toro Rosso rookies Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz impressed in tough conditions and often going toe-to-toe with rivals, to finish seventh and eighth to beat the senior Red Bull duo of Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo who ended ninth and tenth respectively.

McLaren put a positive spin on a poor day as both Fernando Alonso, back in action after missing the season-opener following a pre-season crash, and Jenson Button retired from the race.

After two races, Hamilton leads the driver's standings on 43 points, Vettel sits second on 40, with Rosberg on 33 and Massa on 20.

[highlight ]Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang International Circuit - Sunday, Race Result[/highlight]