Ferrari put fizz back into F1 with Sebastian Vettel's Malaysian GP victory

Sepang: As Sebastian Vettel nurses his hangover, Bernie Ecclestone can raise a toast to the F1 gods after a weekend to savour in Malaysia gave the sport a reason to smile again.

Crisis loomed like the black clouds over Sepang after the German Grand Prix`s axing, deafening complaints from teams and a soporific first race in Australia.

But out of the blue, Vettel and Ferrari punctured Mercedes` dominance, while Malaysia put pen to paper on a new, three-year deal which secures the race until 2018.

While Formula One`s problems are hardly solved, Ferrari`s resurgence will at least pique interest in a sport which was again becoming dangerously one-dimensional.

Signs of the crisis were clear when Ecclestone resorted to asking media what should be done about a championship struggling with financial and structural difficulties.

Two teams fell by the wayside last year and Germany, a heartland of F1, joined South Korea and India in dropping off the schedule. 

"I think sometimes we (promoters) tell him what to do and he doesn`t listen," said Sepang circuit chief Razlan Razali, during negotiations with Ecclestone for Malaysia`s new deal.

"But I think only now he listens."

Ecclestone posited a range of potential solutions, ranging from a "Grand Slam" series of elite races to awarding points instead of grid places for qualifying.

But the 84-year-old ringmaster admitted his hands were now tied with much power held by private equity firm CVC, the major shareholder, and F1`s squabbling teams.Huge overheads and falling profits mean many observers think the sport is headed for a tipping point this year, which could force deep reforms.

"I think 2015 is going to be a watershed in Formula One, on many fronts," Force India deputy team principal Robert Fernley told AFP.

"And it`s going to have to re-look at itself in a very in-depth way in 2015 to make sure that it addresses the concerns of the fans, the teams, the TV, the media, the whole group. 

"Because I don`t believe that we`re doing a good job at the moment at that."

Razali said Malaysia wanted only a three-year extension, shorter than the customary five years, because of caution over the health of the sport.

He cited the example of new team Manor, saying it was a "joke" they were allowed to join the championship despite not being ready for the start of the season.

Manor`s cars were in bits at the season-opener in Australia and in Malaysia, only Roberto Merhi was able to take part -- despite missing the required qualifying time.

"If you`re not ready, you`re not ready, don`t participate. Participate later in the rounds. It makes a mockery out of the sport, I think," Razali told AFP.

In the event, Vettel won a thriller in Malaysia and he promised to celebrate with plenty of booze as he headed into the night with his Ferrari team-mates.

While it`s not quite party-time for Ecclestone, he can at least breathe a little easier as he contemplates the next step for Formula One.