Lewis Hamilton is top of the Driver’s Championship while Vodafone McLaren Mercedes is top of the Constructor’s table after a challenging Malaysian Grand Prix.

Hamilton’s fifth placed finish scored him four points, taking his total to 14 while Kovalainen took his season’s tally into double figures after he came third.

Meanwhile, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes leads the Constructor’s Championship with 24 points scored so far.

The story could have been different had Lewis Hamilton not been hampered by a wheel nut locking mechanism failure during his first pit stop but "strong performances" from the two drivers kept Vodafone McLaren Mercedes on top.

Kovalainen had cause for celebration after making his first podium appearance for the team and praised the team effort.

Speaking after the race, Ron Dennis, said : "Heikki had a great race dealing well with the traffic and achieving a well deserved first podium position with the team."

Kovalainen said: "The team really did a fantastic job and I am happy to reward them with my first podium for the team."

Meanwhile, chief executive officer of the team, Martin Whitmarsh was also delighted with Kovalainen’s first podium finish but warned the team against complacency in future races.

"We’re leading both World Championships, so it hasn’t been too shabby a start to the year, but we need to raise our game in Bahrain and carry that through into the European season," he said

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