Verstappen Glides Past Hamilton To Win 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen won the second race of his career as he glided past pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton to win the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, claimed the third and final podium position.
Mercedes’ Hamilton had claimed the pole position but it was Verstappen who looked like the pole-sitter as he stormed around the track in his usual teenage driving fashion and overtook Hamilton a mere four laps into the race – and never looked back – eventually winning by a nearly 13-second margin. Hamilton was content to cede the race to Verstappen as he was not under pressure from his main rival, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who had to start the race in last place due to incurring engine penalties. Vettel made a spirited effort to move up through the field and eventually wound up fourth behind Ricciardo before Ferrari told him to back off fighting for third place in the final laps. Only five cars finished on the lead lap.
With the second-place points, Hamilton moves out to a 34-point lead over Vettel – Hamilton with 281 points to 247 for Vettel with the Japanese Grand Prix up next.
2017 Malaysian Grand Prix Results
1] Max Verstappen/Red Bull
2] Lewis Hamilton/Mercedes
3] Daniel Ricciardo/Red Bull
4] Sebastian Vettel/Ferrari
5] Valtteri Bottas/Mercedes
6] Sergio PĂ©rez/Force India
7] Stoffel Vandoorne/McLaren Honda
8] Lance Stroll/Williams
9] Felipe Massa/Williams
10] Esteban Ocon/Force India