Lewis Hamilton celebrates his victory in Malaysia
Photo – Getty Images
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton led flag-to-flag to claim his first win of the 2014 Formula One season in Malaysia. It was the driver’s first victory in the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix.
Hamilton won the pole for the race despite wet conditions in qualifying. Once the green flag dropped, the 2008 champ was out on a Sunday drive.
Mercedes had a great start to the season as teammate Nico Rosberg won the opener in Australia.
Rosberg finished runner-up to Hamilton, which resulted in the first 1-2 finish for Mercedes since Monza in 1955. Four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel finished third.
Two-time Malaysian Grand Prix winner Kimi Raikkonen had a long day. He came into pit on lap three and lost valuable time to the leaders, but wheeled his Ferrari to a 12th-place finish.
Raikkonen got his feet wet in NASCAR by running a Camping World Truck Series and Nationwide Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May 2011. His stock-car plans did not materialize and he found himself back in Formula One in 2012.
Hamilton’s victory was the 23rd of his career and he dedicated it to the families of those who were lost in flight MH 370.