Red Bull driver Max Verstappen won the final edition of the Malaysian
Grand Prix on Sunday, as Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton finished second to
extend his championship lead over Sebastian Vettel to 34 points.
Verstappen, 20, starting from second after Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari
failed to make the grid, overtook pole-sitter Hamilton on lap four
before clinching the second victory of his career and first this season.
Verstappen's Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo was third ahead of
Vettel, who weaved through the field to finish fourth after starting
from the back of the grid following engine problems.
The results mean Hamilton enjoys a big championship lead over Vettel
with five races left in the season, starting next week in Japan.
Compounding Ferrari's woes, Vettel's car ended the day with only
three wheels following an impact with Williams' Lance Stroll after the
finish line.
"That's impossible," Vettel thundered over the radio. "Stroll wasn't looking where he was going!"
Verstappen capped the perfect birthday weekend with the victory and
then hailed his Red Bull team for giving him an "unbelievable" car.
Third on the grid, Verstappen was second by the end of the pit
straight after Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen retired from second spot before
the start with engine problems.
It took him only four laps to reel in pole-sitter Hamilton and from
there the young Dutchman was never in any danger, taking a dominant
victory on the day after his 20th birthday.
"I think in the beginning, straight away, the car felt good," said
Verstappen. "Saw Lewis was struggling a bit [...] of course he has more
to lose in the championship, so I went for it at turn one.
"From there I could do my own race. The car was unbelievable, if I
had to speed up I could. It was a very tough race and incredible to
win."
Hamilton came second to extend his drivers' championship lead to 34 points over Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.
Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo completed the podium at the Sepang International Circuit.
It was Verstappen's second career grand prix victory but only his
second podium finish in a 2017 season which has seen him fail to finish
seven of the 15 races.
"Super, super job," said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner over team radio after Verstappen took the chequered flag.
