Alonso takes Malaysian Grand Prix to lead home McLaren 1-2

By Elmar Dreher Apr 8, 2007, 12:56 GMT

Spanish Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso (L) and his British teammate Lewis Hamilton (R) both of McLaren Mercedes F1 Team jubilates with champagne on the podium after Alonso won the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday 08 April 2007. EPA/KERIM OKTEN

Sepang Malaysia - McLaren-Mercedes celebrated a 1-2 finish in Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix as Fernando Alonso took victory ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

The Spaniard started from second place on the grid but never looked back after passing Ferrari's Felipe Massa on the first corner, going on to complete the 56 laps of 5.543 kilometres for 310.408 kilometres in a time of one hour 32 minutes and 14.930 seconds.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen took third with BMW-Sauber's Nick Heidfeld hanging on to fourth ahead of Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari.

Last year's winner, Giancarlo Fisichella, took sixth spot for Renault with Toyota's Jarno Trulli seventh and Heikki Kovalainen in the second Renault eighth.

'I think it's a wonderful surprise what we have achieved in such a short time. A lot of work has been done inside the team,' said Alonso who joined McLaren at the end of last season after claiming two consecutive drivers' titles with Renault.

'We never expected to be that competitive,' he admitted.

The McLarens got the perfect start from the grid as Alonso leapfrogged Massa to lead at the first corner while team-mate Hamilton managed the jump from fourth to second.

Massa, who started from pole position, tried in vain to pass McLaren rookie Hamilton but paid the price for his impatience on lap 6 as the Brazilian went too wide on a corner, returning down in fifth place.

With Alonso slowly pulling away, Raikkonen set about challenging Hamilton but the Ferrari driver failed to get close enough to the young Briton to mount an attack of note.

'I'm happy to get some points but disappointed how the race ended,' said Raikkonen. 'We just didn't have enough speed today and couldn't do any more.'

Alonso and Raikkonen both pitted with 38 laps remaining while Hamilton stayed out two laps longer before returning in second place with a slightly increased lead over the Finn, who found himself stuck behind Fisichella.

Heidfeld remained in front of Massa in fourth after his stop while Raikkonen moved up to third, but with a 10-second gap to close on Hamilton, once Fischella's Renault pitted on lap 24.

Hamilton pitted for the final time with 18 laps remaining while Alonso came in two laps later. Raikkonen remained out for an extra lap before his stop while Heidfeld returned just ahead of Massa in fourth after pitting with 14 laps to go.

While Alonso drove within himself for the remainder of the race to claim the 16th GP win of his career, Raikkonen edged ever closer to Hamilton but eventually ran out of laps.

'That was the most difficult race I ever had,' said Hamilton. 'I had to keep pushing to the last lap.'

Alonso now leads the drivers' standings with 18 points from two races, two clear of Raikkonen and four ahead of the 22-year-old Hamilton.

McLaren-Mercedes also head the constructors' standings with 32 points, followed by Ferrari on 23 and BMW-Sauber on 10 points.