2006 a distant memory for McLaren

At Sepang, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton gave McLaren their first one-two since the 2005 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, also the venue of the British squad's last win before a drought of over a year.

McLaren completed their first win-less season in a decade in 2006, but Alonso's dominant performance on Sunday put those memories away.

"To be honest, I feel like I have only gone two hours without a win," a happy Dennis after the race. "I think the year before is a distant memory.

"At the end of the day we exist to win and we think we have done a very good job. A lot of people work very, very hard over the winter and I don't think there is anything lucky about what unfolded.

"You get out of motor racing what you put in. And sometimes it is absolutely confusing to be pushing so hard and not get the result, but this year it seems to be coming off."

Following Ferrari's victory in the first race of the season in Australia, McLaren were hoping to be closer to the Italian team in Malaysia, but Alonso's win showed how fast thing change in Formula One, with his team now seemingly holding the upper hand over their rivals.

Dennis reckons McLaren, who now lead both championships, got the result they deserved after months of hard work.

"We are delighted really - understandably," added Dennis. "But I don't know where to start. To finish first and second you cannot really better, but both drivers drove impeccably.

"Neither of them left the track and Lewis fought well and clean. He played the pressure well with Kimi and had everything under control and deserved to finish second.

"I don't think anyone gifted anything to us today. We had good strategy, good starts and ultimately we got the result that the team and the drivers deserved."