SEPANG, Malaysia (AFP) — Sebastian Vettel’s broad grin and sense of mischief summed up his joy yesterday as he celebrated victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix, a win that ended Red Bull’s faltering start to the season.

The 22-year-old German came home first ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber, 33, in a one-two triumph that erased their disappointment after flops in the season opening races in Bahrain and Australia.

“What a day,” said Vettel. “Saturday was extremely difficult because of the rain, but we did the job and today (yesterday)… we had a magnificent car,” he said.

The Red Bull team had set the pace in both opening races with Vettel on pole and leading each time only to be deprived of good results due to a spark plug failure and then a loose wheel nut.

He had looked like winning each race until those problems struck.

This time he had a faultless afternoon and produced a near-perfect race that hoisted him up to level second with Spaniard Fernando Alonso of Ferrari in the drivers title race.

Vettel had qualified third, but snatched the lead with a dazzling start and a dive past Webber, who was on pole, through the opening corner.

Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany holds his trophy aloft after winning the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix in Sepang, Malaysia, yesterday.

(Photo: AP)