Feature: New Rules, New Guard Shine in Sepang

Max Mosley may have been conspicuous by his absence in Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur, but the FIA president's new rule-book and its effectiveness could not have been ignored as the two incident-filled season-opening races delivered a changing of the guard and the emergence of a clutch of fresh stars.

Led by Kimi Raikkonen, the 23-year-old Finn who took a flawless maiden victory in today's Malaysian Grand Prix, and 21-year-old Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who became the youngest man to earn pole position on Saturday, Formula One's new generation have confirmed the arrival of a brave new F1 world.

Like it or not, the contrived revised qualifying and race system has shaken up the starting grid order and added the spice of the unexpected to a sport that last season wore a threadbare look of careworn boredom and predictability.

Indeed, after only two races, it is difficult to remember how dull it was to see Michael Schumacher at the head of the field. How ironic, too, it is to see McLaren-Mercedes at the front since their team principal Ron Dennis has been the greatest critic and opponent of the regulations ushered in by Mosley.

His emotions at Sepang, where he wiped away a tear as he watched Raikkonen steer through the chaos of the opening lap towards a memorable triumph, betrayed the passion and frustrations that have kept his competitiveness intact during the last three years in Ferrari's slipstream.

Now, as it happened after Mika Hakkinen secured his first victory at Jerez in 1997, Raikkonen is expected to raise his level and become a regular winner and contender for the drivers' title.

That, of course, is just what David Coulthard may not need as he reflects, once again, on how a perfect scenario in which to consolidate on his win in Australia and early grasp of the Championship lead turned into a gut-wrenching disappointment.

The Scot did not mince his words in condemning his Woking-based team's reliability record after climbing from his retired machine to watch his teammate establish himself as early-season leader of the title race. He was second when he retired but should, with luck, overcome this setback.

Five-times World Champion Michael Schumacher, whose first lap error saw him entangled with Jarno Trulli's Renault, then require four visits to the Ferrari pits, at least had the consolation of a rush through the field and some points, even if he missed out on a podium for the second consecutive race.

After virtually owning a permanent place among the top three in recent years, it was strange for him and the spectators that he was an early departure from the paddock.

But his exit, along with those of Coulthard and Williams-BMW's Juan Pablo Montoya, demonstrated that for all their experience and the pre-season predictions of another season dominated by Ferrari, 2003 has ushered in the catalysts for change.

Alonso, suffering from a fever, became the youngest-ever pole-sitter, and the first Spaniard on the podium since 1956 with a magnificent effort for Renault behind Raikkonen and Rubens Barrichello. Together, Alonso and Raikkonen are the duo most likely to take over at the top.

But Ferrari must not be forgotten. Like McLaren, they have a new car due soon, possibly in Brazil. And they cannot suffer such ill-fortune as in these two opening flyaway contests again and again.

As Coulthard warned, the Italian outfit remains the team to beat and once they can avoid skirmishes and problems, they will doubtless emerge, with McLaren on their heels, as the defending champions they are.

But the new rule-book will continue to throw a few unexpected spanners in the works along the way until they fully understand how to make the most of Mosley's modernised Formula.