Sepang (Malaysia), March 29 (IANS): Germany's Sebastian Vettel scored his and Ferrari’s first win since 2013 as a superb drive for the Italian team took him to victory podium in the Formula 1 Malaysia Grand Prix here on Sunday.

Starting second off the grid, Vettel moved into early lead when his rivals pitted under safety car. The German never looked back and used a two-stop strategy to beat the three-stopping Mercedes of pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at the Sepang International Circuit.

It was the 40th career victory for Vettel and his fourth in Malaysia. The 27-year-old had last won a race in November 2013 at the season-ending Brazilian GP. Meanwhile, this was Ferrari's first win since the Spanish GP in May 2013 when Fernando Alonso won his home race.

Finnish Kimi Raikkonen confirmed Ferrari’s resurgence, recovering from an 11th-place start and an early puncture, to finish an impressive fourth, ahead of the battling Williams duo of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa.

Max Verstappen, 17, became the youngest points scorer in the sport's history as he took seventh place for Toro Rosso, just ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz, both beating the Red Bulls of Daniil Kvyat and Daniel Ricciardo, who completed the top-10.

The McLarens of Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button retired mid race with technical problems. Marcus Ericsson was the first to go out when he spun his Sauber into the gravel on Lap 4 while Lotus’ Pastor Maldonado succumbed to mechanical gremlins later.