Reverend
April 8th, 2007, 19:26 PM
Reigning world champion Fernando Alonso secured his first victory for McLaren as he claimed a pillar to post win in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Alonso climbed above Kimi Raikkonen in the title race, leading home Lewis Hamilton for a McLaren one-two and their first win since Japan in 2005.
Briton Hamilton, 22, held off a late charge from Ferrari's Raikkonen.
Pole-sitter Felipe Massa blew his chances when he slid off trying to pass Hamilton on lap six and finished fifth.
"It is absolutely fantastic and a wonderful surprise," said Alonso, who chalked up his first win since his victory in Japan for Renault last October. "The team has done a lot of work on the car but we never expected to be that competitive."
Alonso had rounded Massa at the first turn and, in an audacious move, Hamilton rounded both Ferraris from fourth on the grid.
Massa, who had been fastest in practice and took pole, briefly passed Hamilton on lap three, but the British rookie came round the outside of his Ferrari to move back up to second.
Massa's challenge was ended for good when, allowing his frustration to get the better of him, he tried to move beyond Hamilton again but skidded onto the grass and slid back to fifth.
Raikkonen's own early attempts to move up the field were thwarted, but the Finn delivered a thrilling finale to the race as he chased down Hamilton.
The Australian Grand Prix winner reduced the gap between his Ferrari and Hamilton to 0.8 seconds on the last lap but, despite running at a faster pace than the McLaren, he ran out of time as Hamilton nosed across the line in second.
Malaysian Grand Prix:
1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren
2. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari
4. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber
5. Felipe Massa (Bzl) Ferrari
6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault
7. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota
8. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault
9. Alexander Wurz (Aus) Williams-Toyota
10. Mark Webber (Aus) RedBull-Renault
Championship standings:
1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 18 pts
2. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 16
3. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren 14
4. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 10
5. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 7
6. Felipe Massa (Bzl) Ferrari 7
7. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 2
8. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota 2
Constructors' championship:
1. McLaren-Mercedes 32 pts
2. Ferrari 23
3. BMW Sauber 10
4. Renault 8
5. Toyota 3
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6536661.stm)
Alonso climbed above Kimi Raikkonen in the title race, leading home Lewis Hamilton for a McLaren one-two and their first win since Japan in 2005.
Briton Hamilton, 22, held off a late charge from Ferrari's Raikkonen.
Pole-sitter Felipe Massa blew his chances when he slid off trying to pass Hamilton on lap six and finished fifth.
"It is absolutely fantastic and a wonderful surprise," said Alonso, who chalked up his first win since his victory in Japan for Renault last October. "The team has done a lot of work on the car but we never expected to be that competitive."
Alonso had rounded Massa at the first turn and, in an audacious move, Hamilton rounded both Ferraris from fourth on the grid.
Massa, who had been fastest in practice and took pole, briefly passed Hamilton on lap three, but the British rookie came round the outside of his Ferrari to move back up to second.
Massa's challenge was ended for good when, allowing his frustration to get the better of him, he tried to move beyond Hamilton again but skidded onto the grass and slid back to fifth.
Raikkonen's own early attempts to move up the field were thwarted, but the Finn delivered a thrilling finale to the race as he chased down Hamilton.
The Australian Grand Prix winner reduced the gap between his Ferrari and Hamilton to 0.8 seconds on the last lap but, despite running at a faster pace than the McLaren, he ran out of time as Hamilton nosed across the line in second.
Malaysian Grand Prix:
1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren
2. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari
4. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber
5. Felipe Massa (Bzl) Ferrari
6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault
7. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota
8. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Renault
9. Alexander Wurz (Aus) Williams-Toyota
10. Mark Webber (Aus) RedBull-Renault
Championship standings:
1. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 18 pts
2. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 16
3. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren 14
4. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 10
5. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault 7
6. Felipe Massa (Bzl) Ferrari 7
7. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 2
8. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams-Toyota 2
Constructors' championship:
1. McLaren-Mercedes 32 pts
2. Ferrari 23
3. BMW Sauber 10
4. Renault 8
5. Toyota 3
BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6536661.stm)