Calado, who was runner-up in GP3 last season, led from start to finish at Sepang after beating his Lotus team-mate Esteban Gutierrez to the first corner from pole position.

He held off challenges from Gutierrez, a hard-charging Felipe Nasr and and Giedo van der Garde who were all battling hard in behind.

There was a nasty incident on the 13th lap when Saturday runner-up Davide Valsecchi barrel-rolled after being clipped by Marcus Ericsson's car, but neither driver was hurt.

By the closing laps the positions had settled down and it was Calado who came out on top by just over two seconds from the other Lotus of Gutierrez.

Calado, who hails from Worcestershire, made a stunning debut when winning the GP2 feature finale last season in Abu Dhabi but this was his first championship victory.

Result:

1 J Calado (Gbr) Lotus 41 minutes, 08.048 seconds
2 E Gutierrez (Mex) Lotus +2.004secs
3 F Nasr (Brz) DAMS +3.440
4 G van der Garde (Ned) Caterham +10.760
5 L Razia (Brz) Arden International +11.430
6 F Leimer (Sui) Racing Engineering +14.689