Sepang: Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso claimed his first victory in eight months in thrilling style at the rain-interrupted Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday.
Alonso survived a lengthy rain suspension, a rash of spins and mishaps and a strong challenge from Sauber’s Sergio Perez to finish ahead of the Mexican driver, with McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton third.
Spain’s Alonso, a two-time world champion, was no one’s pre-race favourite in the clunky F2012, but he emerged from the chaos caused by torrential rains at the head of the pack and doggedly clung on for victory.
Perez pushed hard for his first win and looked set to steal victory from Alonso until he overshot a turn on lap 50. However, he still managed his maiden trip to the podium.
Red Bull’s Mark Webber was fourth with former world champion Kimi Raikkonen fifth for Lotus. German great Michael Schumacher, who started third on the grid, span early in the race but finished 10th.
But there were no points for McLaren’s Jenson Button, who won last week’s season-opener, after he collided with India’s Narain Karthikeyan and dropped to the back of the pack, finally coming in 14th.
Red Bull’s reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel also endured a torrid day, including a spectacular rear tyre blow-out, as he finished 11th.
Sahara Force India recorded its first double points finish of the season with Paul di Resta securing seventh place and Nico Hulkenberg ninth in the dramatic and rain-hit Malaysian Grand Prix, here today.
At the break, India’s Narain Karthikeyan was in P10 which meant that Hispania had ended a lap within points for the first time. Karthikeyan had not gone into pit lane at that time for wet tyres as most of the drivers had done.
However, Karthikeyan eventually finished 21st, just ahead of teammate Pedro de la Rosa.
Force India enjoyed a good result by picking up eight points after Resta started in the 14th position on the grid and Hulkenberg in the 16th.
Paul Di Resta said that had it not been for the clash with Williams’ Pastor Maldonado, he could have done even better. He was, although, satisfied with the result. “I did pretty well until Maldonado hit me just before the red flag, which spun me around and cost me about three places. At the restart our pace was very good on the intermediate tyres and we were able to get well up the order and stay with the leading group.
“We were a bit lucky with some of the issues for cars ahead, but in races like this you need a bit of luck and given where we started I think we can come away from here very happy with this result,” the Scot said.
Hulkenberg too shared his experience of racing in treacherous conditions.
“I think today’s performance with two cars in the points is a great team result and I’m very happy to pick up my first points of the season,” he said.
“I have to say that the wet conditions today were some of the worst I’ve raced in.” (Agencies)