Sepang: Double world champion Fernando Alonso celebrated an emphatic victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday, with British rookie Lewis Hamilton second to hand McLaren their first one-two finish since 2005.

The win, McLaren’s first since October 2005, sent the Spaniard into the championship lead with 18 points to Kimi Raikkonen’s 16 for Ferrari.

Former McLaren driver Raikkonen, who dominated the season-opening Grand Prix in Australia on his Ferrari debut, finished third ahead of BMW Sauber’s Nick Heidfeld in fourth.

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, who started on pole position, could manage no better than fifth after skidding onto the grass while trying to pass Hamilton early in the race.

“We did it, fantastic job, you deserve it, thank you so much,” Alonso gasped on the team radio as he crossed the line.

Alonso squeezed up the inside of Massa at the first corner to take the lead from second place on the grid while Hamilton forced his way past both Ferraris in another breathtaking start for the Briton.

Massa turned on the pressure for several laps before the costly error.

RESULTS

1. Fernando Alonso (McLaren) 1:32:14.930; 2. Lewis Hamilton ( McLaren) +00:17.557; 3. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 00:18.339; 4. Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) 00:33.777; 5. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 00:36.705; 6. Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault) 01:05.638; 7. Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 01:10.132; 8. Heikki Kovalainen (Renault) 01:12.015; 9. Alexander Wurz (Williams-Toyota) 01:29.924; 10. Mark Webber (RedBull-Renault) 01:33.556; 11. Rubens Barrichello (Honda) 1 lap; 12. Jenson Button (Honda) 1 lap; 13. Takuma Sato (Super Aguri-Honda) 1 lap; 14. Scott Speed (Toro Rosso-Ferrari) 1 lap; 15. Ralf Schumacher (Toyota) 1 lap; 16. Anthony Davidson (Super Aguri-Honda) 1 lap; 17. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Toro Rosso-Ferrari) 1 lap; 18. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) 1 lap r. Nico Rosberg (Williams-Toyota) 13 laps r. David Coulthard (RedBull-Renault) 19 laps r. Christijan Albers (Spyker-Ferrari) 48 laps r. Adrian Sutil (Spyker-Ferrari) 56 laps

STANDINGS (Top ten)

Drivers: 1. Fernando Alonso 18; 2. Kimi Raikkonen 16; 3. Lewis Hamilton 14; 4. Nick Heidfeld 10; 5. Giancarlo Fisichella 7; 6. Felipe Massa 7; 7. Jarno Trulli 2; 8. Nico Rosberg 2; 9. Heikki Kovalainen 1; 10. Ralf Schumacher 1.

Constructors: 1. McLaren-Mercedes 32; 2. Ferrari 23; 3. BMW Sauber 10; 4. Renault 8; 5. Toyota 3; 6. Williams-Toyota 2; 7. RedBull-Renault 0; 8. Honda 0; 9. Super Aguri-Honda 0; 10. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 0