Formula 1: Max Verstappen wins the 2017 Malaysian GP

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen took his second career win in Formula One at the 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton finished in second place, while Verstappen's team mate Daniel Ricciardo took third place. Championship contender Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari put up a strong performance to finish fourth after starting last on the grid.

Verstappen, who turned 20 on Saturday, started the race behind Lewis Hamilton. He took the lead on lap 4 by passing the championship leader into turn 1. Both Red Bulls showed great pace throughout the race as Verstappen took the chequered flag 12 seconds clear of Hamilton. Meanwhile, Ricciardo was able to hold on to third position ahead of Sebastian Vettel. 

Vettel's qualifying session was cut short, as mechanical issues forced him out of Q1. This meant, the Ferrari driver would start last on the grid. His team mate Kimi Raikkonen had a much better Saturday afternoon as he qualified second. However, Kimi had to retire his car even before the race began. A turbo failure on the warm up lap meant that the Ferrari had to be pushed off the grid and out of the race.

Mercedes struggled in Malaysia due to overheating tyres. Valtteri Bottas could only manage to finish in fifth place. Force India's Sergio Perez finished in sixth, ahead of McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne. The two Williams cars of Lance Stroll and Felipe Massa finished eighth and ninth respectively, while Force India's Esteban Ocon was placed tenth. McLaren's Fernando Alonso finished in eleventh place, ahead of the two Haas car of Kevin Magnussen and Romain Grosjean. 

Despite Vettel's effort, Lewis Hamilton extends his lead to 34 points in the World Drivers' Championship. The next race will be held in Japan on October 8, 2017.

World Drivers' Championship standings:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 281 points

2. Sebastian Vettel - 247 points

3. Valtteri Bottas - 222 points

World Constructors' Championship standings:

1. Mercedes - 503 points

2. Ferrari - 385 points

3. Red Bull - 270 points