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Alonso marks Ferrari debut with Bahrain victory
(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-03-15 09:13
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SAKHIR, Bahrain - Fernando Alonso won Sunday's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix to lead a Ferrari 1-2 on his debut for the Italian Formula One team.
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 Ferrari Formula One driver Fernando Alonso of Spain celebrates after winning the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix at Sakhir circuit in Manama March 14, 2010. [Agencies]
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The two-time world champion passed teammate Felipe Massa at the second corner after the start before overtaking pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel on the 34th lap for a lead he would never relinquish.
Lewis Hamilton overtook Vettel at the same spot as the McLaren driver took third place ahead of his Red Bull opponent.
After two frustrating years at Renault, Alonso pounded his chest after jumping on top of his car as Ferrari got off to its best start since 2004 - when Michael Schumacher led a 1-2 start. Alonso replaced Kimi Raikkonen, who also won on his Ferrari debut three years ago.
"A very special day for me, coming back to the top of the podium is always special, but also more special with Ferrari and the history of the team and the expectations," Alonso said. "There is no better way to start the relationship."
Vettel's car slowed after what his team initially thought was an exhaust issue, but later said was an engine problem. He was soon after passed by Massa, who claimed second on his return to racing after a life-threatening crash last July in Hungary.
"We were lucky with the problems of Sebastian Vettel to pass," Massa said. "I'm very happy. It's also the best start of my season. I rode through the race normal(ly), with very good pace. Thanks to God, I'm fine."
Ferrari gave up early on last season due to its worst run of results since 1993 to focus on 2010.
"After the very difficult decision we had to take last year this shows the decision was right," Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said. "The only way to react is to come back with results."
By contrast, it proved to be a frustrating day for Red Bull.
"We had control of the race today and things we were on top of the strategy. Everything was running smoothly," Vettel said. "We should have won today. It cost us a lot."
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said the spark plug failure was "very annoying. We really had the race under control."
Nico Rosberg was more than 40 seconds behind Alonso in fifth place. Schumacher, his Mercedes teammate and a seven-time champion, came sixth in his first race in three years after starting seventh in his first race.
"All in all, I have a very positive feeling after my first race," Schumacher said through a translator. "We came in roughly where we expected to come in."
Alonso and Ferrari confirmed their preseason expectations as title favorites after the two-time champion's 22nd career victory. It was Alonso's third win at the Middle East track but first since 2006 - when he won his last title.
