Malaysian Grand Prix 2011 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Sebastian Vettel continued his perfect start to the season with a dominant victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix, converting another pole position into his second consecutive win as Red Bull's overwhelming superiority became increasingly apparent. The German driver controlled the race in the sweltering Sepang heat, leading home Jenson Button's McLaren and Nick Heidfeld's Renault to extend his championship lead and demonstrate the RB7's devastating pace advantage.

Starting from pole with a lap of 1:34.870, Vettel made another flawless start and immediately pulled away from the field, managing the challenging conditions with supreme confidence. The tropical heat and humidity at Sepang placed enormous stress on both drivers and machinery, with tire degradation proving particularly severe on the aggressive Pirelli compounds. Vettel navigated the strategic challenges perfectly, timing his pit stops to maintain track position while managing tire wear on a circuit known for punishing rear tires through the long, fast corners. His teammate Mark Webber set the fastest lap but could only manage tenth after a difficult race, highlighting Vettel's superior execution.

Button delivered an excellent drive to claim second place in his second race for McLaren, demonstrating improved understanding of the MP4-26 and the new Pirelli tires. The 2009 World Champion's podium finish gave McLaren encouragement that they could challenge Red Bull with further development. Heidfeld secured his second consecutive podium for Renault, confirming the team's strong early-season form and establishing himself as a consistent points scorer. Lewis Hamilton struggled throughout the weekend and finished a disappointing eighth, while Ferrari's woes continued with Fernando Alonso seventh and Felipe Massa retiring again. The race featured several incidents including crashes and mechanical failures typical of Sepang's demanding nature. Vettel's back-to-back victories established him as the overwhelming championship favorite, with Red Bull's dominance reminiscent of their strong 2010 campaign - but this time with even greater superiority.