Lewis Hamilton battled dehydration in the Malaysian Grand Prix after a problem with his on-board water dispenser but was still disappointed not to edge Jarno Trulli out of fourth place.

Hamilton, who won the first race of the season in Australia, started ninth on the grid after receiving a five-place penalty yesterday and was held up by a near 20-second pit stop in his bid for a podium finish.

Kimi Raikkonen won the race for Ferrari, Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber finished second, and Hamilton's team-mate Heikki Kovalainen came third.

Despite his problems, Hamilton was still frustrated with fifth. "I got off to a very good start and I'm very happy with that, jumping from ninth to fifth," he said. "But I got stuck behind Mark [Webber] and when you are in behind someone it doesn't matter how much quicker you are.

"[The water] didn't run out but it just didn't work, so I am very, very thirsty. We were in with a good shot of third place and then had trouble with the pit stop. "I pressed very, very hard for fourth, I really wanted that point, but it wasn't to be."

Hamilton, who leads the drivers' championship after two races, was happy with the way his body reacted to the lack of fluid in oppressive heat but has already targeted an improved performance in Bahrain next week.

"The great thing was I was able to drive without water, and I feel good. But we need to go again next time and do a better job in qualifying."

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