Jenson Button secured the first podium finish of his 68-race Formula One career on Sunday with third place at the Malaysian Grand Prix, behind winner Michael Schumacher and runner-up Juan Pablo Montoya.

Schumacher once again led from start to finish to become the first man to win this race, introduced to the calendar in 1999, on three separate occasions.

Montoya finished five seconds behind in his Williams with Button third, just 11.5secs off Schumacher.

The 24-year-old emerged from the car and punched the air with both hands after surviving a tricky wet start and the continued pressure of Schumacher's Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello to guide his BAR home and secure his first main ambition of the season.

Button has endured some rough times in the sport since his much-heralded debut season with Williams in 2000, but the signs have been there that he and BAR are ready to challenge the established Formula One order.

He qualified fourth and finished sixth in Melbourne a fortnight ago - a promising performance but one that left BAR determined to improve.

Points were not enough, they wanted a podium and this time Button delivered.

Although Schumacher strolled unchallenged to the 72nd victory if his career, behind him an exciting race full of thrills and spills developed.

Barrichello finished fourth, Jarno Trulli fifth and David Coulthard sixth.

Mark Webber, who had qualified on the front row next to Schumacher, endured a nightmare day.

His start was disastrous and from second he entered the first corner in 13th before blowing a tyre and incurring a drive-through penalty before finally spinning out to bring his day to fitting, disappointing close.

As Webber went backwards, Fernando Alonso, who started from the back after fitting a second engine, surged through the field in incredible fashion.

With launch control banned this year, the Spaniard had made the outstanding start in Melbourne a fortnight ago and did the same again on Sunday, rising from last to eighth place.

The Spaniard, driving with a black armband in memory of the 202 victims of the Madrid bombs, eventually finished seventh, one place behind Coulthard.

It had been a start full of thrills and spills as the early wet conditions began to play a significant role, with Raikkonen spinning on the parade lap.

He then retired from the race late on, while challenging Button for third, with what appeared a blown engine.

Jordan's Giorgio Pantano, who had started from the pits, spun in the first lap, Takuma Sato hit the dirt but managed to carry on as all the drivers struggled to keep their machines under control.

Button touched wheels with Trulli as they battled for places from the start, engaging in a thrilling nose-to-tail chase, as the Briton ducked and dived to try to find a way through.

Trulli preserved his fourth place until he pitted for a second time after 20 laps, handing Button a saloon passage through and from there life just got better and better.

Button said his podium finish was the culmination of a lot of work by not only him but the BAR team.

"The team have worked so hard for this," said the British driver.

"It is not the pinnacle of what we want but it is a step in the right direction.

"I am ecstatic and I can't wait to get back to the team to congratulate them.

"It was worrying when (team-mate) Takuma Sato's engine went [with four laps to go]. It was great to have a gap with a car behind me as last two years I've had a car breathing down my neck on the final lap."

Schumacher admitted the race had been challenging but despite back-to-back victories in the opening two grands prix he was taking nothing for granted.

"In the moments where we needed to be quick we were just quick enough," he said.

"Each time, after pit stops it opened up and closed down, so it was a tough fight right to the end and it [victory] was not granted at all.

"It was pressure all the way. Malaysia as a circuit is a tough circuit. It would have been even harder having the sunshine but I didn't mind it not being sunny.

"After the difficulties we have had here in the past with tyres, Bridgestone have done a fantastic job to compete in such extreme conditions and I am delighted we have come back and we are where we are.

"It is easier to lead the championship but it is only two races and there are 16 to go and I think it will be a hard year."

Montoya claimed he was satisfied with the outcome but admitted the Williams-BMW had to be more competitive more often if they were to challenge Schumacher's superiority.

"I think the day went pretty well," he said. "During the race the car seemed to get better and the tyres were getting better.

"You need to have a car that is consistent to win everywhere. They (Ferrari) have that car and we need to do a bit of work."