Fernando Alonso dominated the 56-lap Malaysian Grand Prix from Pole Position to chequered flag. It was a crushing performance from the Renault squad who notch up its second win in as many weeks as Alonso moves himself to the top of the championship standings. Jarno Trulli drove a fine race to record Toyota's first ever podium position as the Italian crossed the line 25 seconds behind Alonso and eight seconds ahead of Nick Heidfeld who put in a very solid performance for BMW Williams.
Despite the heat taking its toll on the race winner, the race for the victory was never in serious doubt as Alonso led throughout while Trulli maintained the second position controlling the gap to the third place driver. Third position was however up for grabs with first Giancarlo Fisichella then Kimi Raikkonen, then Ralf Schumacher and then Mark Webber all staking a claim to the final podium position.
While other lost their heads, Nick Heidfeld sailed through the debris and took a well deserved third place after starting the race back in tenth position. For the German racer, his second career podium position will help alleviate some of the pressure that has been building at the BMW Williams camp.
Perhaps the biggest talking point of the race in the coming weeks will not be Fernando Alonso's win or Trulli's remarkable second place in the Toyota. Nor will it be Heidfeld's first podium position for BMW Williams. It will be the collision between Renault driver Giancarlo Fisichella and Mark Webber.
Fisichella trailed team-mate Alonso and Jarno Trulli and following his second and final pitstop the Melbourne winner ran into difficulties with his tyres. Soon Webber, Heidfeld and Ralf Schumacher were right with the Italian and for a good few laps the three battled hard and fair for the final podium position. With 20 laps to go Webber took Fisichella cleanly only for Fisichella to fight back down the long final straight. Heading towards the turn Webber opted to take the outside line while Fisichella went down the inside. The Renault slid wide at the same time as Webber closed the door. Contact was made and both drivers were out of the race on the spot.
As ever, It is unlikely that either driver will take blame when both should take responsibility for what was a needless accident. Nick Heidfeld following Webber comfortably at the time, simply drove through the debris and took the position.
Fourth place went to Juan Pablo Montoya who salvaged points for McLaren Mercedes on a day that Kimi Raikkonen looked all set for at least fourth position and probably the podium until his right rear Michelin failed following his first stop. Raikkonen fought back but was unable to make it back into the points.
Ralf Schumacher started fifth and finished fifth in what was a far from easy race for the Toyota driver. The German enjoyed a good battle with the Williams duo until contact was made with Webber resulting in lost time during his second stop for repairs. With bits of the TF105 falling off the younger Schumacher took the chequered flag ten seconds behind Montoya who snatched the fourth place during the final round of stops.
David Coulthard drove a clean race to finish in sixth position in the Red Bull Racing Cosworth. The Scotsman battled hard with Rubens Barrichello early in the race and had no trouble holding back Michael Schumacher who took a dismal seventh position for Ferrari. The final point went to Christian Klien who held off Kimi Raikkonen to take eighth position.
With Raikkonen ninth, Felipe Massa took tenth position a lap down in what has been a disappointing weekend from Sauber Petronas. The final finishers were Narain Karthikeyan and Tiago Monteiro for Jordan two and three laps down respectively while Christijan Albers brought his Minardi home four laps down.
Rubens Barrichello looked set for 11th position until he called it a day seven laps from home and pulled the grip-less Ferrari into the pits to retire. Ferrari may not have its definitive 2005 car just yet, but it is pretty clear that Bridgestone have some work to do as well if the reining Champions wish to hold onto either the drivers' or constructors' titles.
Jacques Villeneuve also failed to finish after locking his rear wheels up under braking for the first turn early in the race and spinning off into retirement. For the former champion, this will not help alleviate the pressure that is building as rumours persist about his ongoing tenure at the Swiss team.
For BAR Honda the Malaysian Grand Prix was simply a nightmare. When Jenson Button's Honda failed two laps into the race things looked bleak. Seconds later things took a turn for the worst as Anthony Davidson coasted to a halt his race debut just lasting minutes. With two cooked Honda V10s smoking away at the side of the circuit, both men were out of the race and the team left wondering why they had bothered pitting for new engines at the end of the Australian Grand Prix. It is clear that BAR Honda are no where near as competitive as they were 12-months ago and they seem to have major engine issues as well.
It was a dramatic race for everyone but Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli and the F1 circus now packs up and heads to Bahrain in two weeks time.