Ferrari are back in the frame. A complete reversal of the Australian result saw Kimi Raikkonen and Ferrari dominate in the same way Lewis Hamilton and McLaren had taken charge of the opening race in Australia one week ago.
Ferrari had been strong from the outset, Raikkonen never below third fastest time at any stage during practice and qualifying. The world champion started from second on the grid, slotted in behind team mate Felipe Massa at the start and simply bided his time. Raikkonen ran one lap longer than the Brazilian at the time of the first stop and made good use of it to move ahead.
Massa, perhaps miffed by the performance of his team-mate, then managed to spin off. The Brazilian said something was wrong with his car; the Ferrari team's initial investigation found no fault; the fact that Massa had touched a kerb may have been an error as fundamental as the one which saw him spin at the first corner in Australia. Either way, two races without point is not sitting well with Ferrari, particularly on a day when their rivals, McLaren, had a troubled weekend and yet came away with the same number of points (10).
Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen were no match for Ferrari during qualifying and their cause was not helped when a five place penalty for blocking during qualifying sent them both down the grid. Hamilton made a storming start but his weekend slipped back a gear when a jammed wheel nut cost 10 seconds - and a couple of places - during his first pit stop. Hamilton chased the impressive Toyota all the way home and had to be satisfied with fifth place and the three points that keep him at the top of the championship. Meanwhile, Kovalainen produced an impressive drive into third and served notice on Hamilton that the battle between the McLaren drivers will be as tight as last year - but hopefully with less ill-feeling.
Both McLaren and Ferrari will have noted that the slightest hiccough on their part will be enough to allow BMW to capitalise. Nick Heidfeld finished second in Australia at Ferrari's expense; in Malaysia, McLaren's woes contributed to Robert Kubica scoring his best ever result by finishing second. Championships are won through consistency as much as outright speed.
All to play for, then, as the scene shifts to Bahrain in two weeks' time.
