2012 Malaysian Grand Prix The Malaysian Grand Prix

Ferrari snatches victory at Sepang to ease what has been a painful start to the season and Alonso was understandably delighted with today's good fortune.

What a fantastic drive from Sergio Perez and it looked for all the world at one stage that he would have a go at Alonso in the final stages, before that dramatic radio call and his trip wide onto the run-off area.

Hamilton and Webber grab good points to keep their score flowing and Raikkonen will be pleased to get a strong result. Bruno Senna, on the weekend of his uncle's birthday, claimed a fine sixth and will be satisfied to score.

But a disappointing race for both Mercedes drivers and there will be a big post-race debrief no doubt when the drivers get back to the team hospitality unit. Button and Massa also suffered, while Vettel lost his chance to grab some decent points when he punctured a tyre on the front wing of Karthikeyan's HRT.

This was the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix on AUTOSPORT Live. Thanks for your company over the last three days of action. Next on the calendar is China, in three weeks time.

Stick with AUTOSPORT for all the news and reaction to a dramatic Malaysian Grand Prix.

Meanwhile, Karthikeyan is under investigation for the contact with Vettel that gave the Red Bull man his puncture in the closing stages.

McLaren tops the early constructors order ahead of Red Bull and Ferrari, with Sauber a strong fourth thanks to a great day in Malaysia.

Button is third in the points, a further five behind his team-mate, with Webber fourth ahead of Perez and champion Vettel.

Alonso now tops the early drivers' standings, with the five-point margin over Hamilton.

The three drivers and Ferrari chief Domenicali stand atop the podium for the traditional end-of-race photograph, before they disappear towards the press room.

The champagne sprays on the podium and Perez decides that Alonso deserves a shower. All three of them look pretty pleased with today's work

Hamilton collects his prize for a solid drive to third place after again starting from pole in his McLaren.

Sergio Perez takes his award for a brilliant second place. He is overjoyed and the Sauber crew cheers wildly.

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali accepts the constructors' award on a remarkable day for the Italian outfit.

Alonso picks up and kisses his trophy for a champion's drive to the top step of the podium.

That is followed by the Italian national anthem for today's winning constructor - Ferrari.

The Spanish national anthem rings out over Sepang for this afternoon's perhaps surprised winner.

The top three drivers make their way out onto the podium and the crowd roars, as Alonso takes the top step.

Huge cheers from the Ferrari team as the crew celebrates a fine win to ease the pressure over the outfit's difficult car.

Two drivers retired from today's race:

Kobayashi pulled out towards the end with a mechanical problem, while Grosjean was an early casualty after tapping Schumacher on the first lap and then spinning out for good a few laps later at Turn 7.

Pic was 20th in the other Marussia and finished 72 seconds ahead of Karthikeyan, with de la Rosa last finisher in 22nd.

Hamilton congratulates Perez as the Mexican steps out of his Sauber to celebrate his first podium finish.

Petrov was 16th for Caterham, ahead of Glock 17th and Kovalainen 18th. Maldonado was classified in 19th place.

Rosberg got his own back on Button on the last lap and comes home in 13th with the Briton 14th and Massa in 15th spot.

Delight in the Ferrari and Sauber camps on the team radio, with both teams overjoyed with unexpected positions at the head of the field.

Vettel eventually stayed out and crossed the line after Red Bull changed its mind three times. He finishes in 11th, with Ricciardo 12th.

Vergne hangs on for eighth place and wins that battle against Hulkenberg. Schumacher rounds out the top 10 and scores a point for Mercedes.

Senna takes a fine sixth in his Williams, with di Resta taking strong points for Force India in seventh.

It's fourth for Webber in the Red Bull, with Rakkonen fast throughout the race and taking fifth place for Lotus.

Hamilton struggled to match the pace of the Ferrari-powered pair ahead but brings home a third place finish for McLaren.

Perez comes home a remarkable second after an incredible drive, but it could have been more after he was with Alonso in the closing stages.

A sterling drive from the Spaniard, finding strong wet-weather pace in the troublesome F2012 to score a much needed boost for the team.

Fernando Alonso wins the Malaysian Grand Prix!

Lap 56: Alonso rounds the final corner and heads for a 28th career win...

Lap 56: Red Bull changes its mind and tells Vettel to stay out, then double-backs and instructs him to stop immediately.

Lap 56: Vettel is also told to come into the pits and park the car. He is 11th.

Lap 56: Alonso begins his final lap with a 2.5 second margin over Perez.

Lap 55: He parks the car and for the second time a points finish goes begging when he was certain to score.

Lap 55: Maldonado is told that there is an engine problem and that he needs to come into the pits.

Lap 54: Maldonado is in trouble and the Williams is trailing smoke with just a handful of laps to go.

Lap 54: Alonso is two laps away from victory in Sepang.

Lap 54: @eddstrawF1 makes another good point: "Remember that P6 that Maldonado threw away for Williams in Melbourne? Well, Senna's about to make up for it..."

Lap 54: Schumacher posts his fastest lap of the race with 1m41.760s. He is closing up to that trio of cars that is fighting for eighth.