Lewis Hamilton's 100th points finish of his Formula One career proved to be a comfortable lights-to-flag win of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
It was a consummate performance from Hamilton and Mercedes, ending a run of nine races without a podium, one of his worst droughts since he entered the top tier of the sport at the start of 2007.
Hamilton is congratulated by Sebastian Vettel on the podium
From pre-season testing the suspicion was Mercedes had the best car, and so it has proven so far, with Nico Rosberg following up his win at the opening race in Australia by finishing second to Hamilton this time.
Hamilton waves from his car after winning the Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit
For the 29-year-old Briton, after claiming his 33rd pole on Saturday, this was his 23rd victory, and his first at the Sepang International Circuit.
It will now ignite the fire of his championship challenge this year after retiring just a handful of laps into the race at Melbourne.
Hamilton finished 17.3 seconds clear of Rosberg, with four-times champion Sebastian Vettel third in his Red Bull but 25 seconds down on the lead Mercedes.
Hamilton wins in Malaysia
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(01 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP (R) celebrates on the podium with second placed Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(02 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates on the podium after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-MAS-F1-PODIUM(03 of37)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain (top C) holds up the winner's trophy as he celebrates his victory as second-placed Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg (L) of Germany, third-placed Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel (R) and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (C-back to camera) look on, at the awards ceremony following the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur on March 30, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ROSLAN RAHMAN (Photo credit should read ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-MAS-F1-PODIUM(04 of37)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain (R) celebrates his victory on the podium with second-placed Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg (L) and third-placed Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel (C) after the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur on March 30, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ROSLAN RAHMAN (Photo credit should read ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(05 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates on the podium after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(06 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP (L) celebrates on the podium with second placed Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(07 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP (L) celebrates on the podium with second placed Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(08 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates on the podium after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(09 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates on the podium after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(10 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Race winner Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates on the podium after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-MAS-F1-PODIUM(11 of37)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain (top R) holds up the winner's trophy as he celebrates his victory as second-placed Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg (L) of Germany and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (C-back to camera) look on, at the awards ceremony following the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur on March 30, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ROSLAN RAHMAN (Photo credit should read ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(12 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates victory with team mates and mechanics in parc ferme after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(13 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates victory with team mates and mechanics after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(14 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates victory with team mates and mechanics in parc ferme after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(15 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates victory with team mates and mechanics in parc ferme after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(16 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP climbs out of his car in victory at parc ferme after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(17 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates victory after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(18 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates victory after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-MAS-F1-PODIUM(19 of37)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain (C) celebrates his victory on the podium as second-placed Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg (L) and third-placed Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel (R) look on at the awards ceremony after the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur on March 30, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ROSLAN RAHMAN (Photo credit should read ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-MAS-F1-PODIUM(20 of37)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain (C) celebrates his victory on the podium as second-placed Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg (L) and third-placed Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel (R) look on at the awards ceremony after the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur on March 30, 2014. AFP PHOTO / ROSLAN RAHMAN (Photo credit should read ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(21 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates victory after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-MAS-F1(22 of37)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain (L) gestures from his car after winning the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur on March 30, 2014. AFP PHOTO / Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(23 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates victory after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(24 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates victory after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-MAS-F1(25 of37)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain (L) waves from his car after winning the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur on March 30, 2014. AFP PHOTO / Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
AUTO-PRIX-MAS-F1(26 of37)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain (L) waves from his car after winning the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur on March 30, 2014. AFP PHOTO / Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(27 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP celebrates victory after the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(28 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads the field at the start of the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(29 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads the field during the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(30 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP drives during the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(31 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads at the start during the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(32 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads the field during the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(33 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP into the first corner during the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(34 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads the race during the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(35 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP at the first corner during the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(36 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP at the first corner during the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
F1 Grand Prix of Malaysia - Race(37 of37)
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MARCH 30: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP leads Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP at the first corner during the Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit on March 30, 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)