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5-star Hamilton eases to China win
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LEWIS Hamilton mastered Shanghai’s changing conditions and stayed clear of squabbling rivals to win the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix yesterday.
The Briton eased his Mercedes across the line 6.2 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. Max Verstappen, who started 16th, finished third to hand Red Bull its 100th podium.
It was Hamilton’s 54th career win and a record fifth in Shanghai. But it was the triple champion’s first this season and returned Mercedes to the top of the podium after Vettel won last month’s season-opening race for a resurgent Ferrari.
“I’m so happy with my first win of the year and I can’t believe it if I’m honest,” said Hamilton after the race, which also handed him his 106th podium, putting him joint second with Alain Prost on the list of drivers with most rostrum results.
Hamilton, who finished second to Vettel in Melbourne, heads into the next race in Bahrain in a week’s time tied on points with the German.
Mercedes, meanwhile, leads the constructors’ standings by one point over Ferrari.
Hamilton started from pole position, but the conditions were a bit of a lottery for all the drivers with the track damp in patches but drying quickly.
He kept the lead off the line ahead of Vettel, who came under investigation for lining up out of position on his grid slot.
The German, though, stayed second, fending off Valtteri Bottas in the other Mercedes, who had started third.
Lance Stroll, the 18-year-old rookie, spun off the track on the first lap after making contact with Force India’s Sergio Perez. The Canadian beached his Williams in the gravel, bringing out the virtual safety car.
Vettel took the opportunity to dive into the pits to change to dry weather tires.
His gamble backfired when Antonio Giovinazzi — standing in for Pascal Wehrlein at Sauber — crashed, bringing out the actual safety car two laps later.
The four-time world champion found himself bottled up behind Daniel Ricciardo and his slower teammate Kimi Raikkonen, costing him valuable time. As the trio squabbled for position, Hamilton pulled clear at the front.
By the time Vettel managed to get past, with a series of spectacular overtaking moves, Hamilton was too far ahead.
Ricciardo finished fourth for Red Bull, crossing the line just 0.8 seconds behind Verstappen after hassling the Dutchman in the closing stages of the 56-lap race. Raikkonen was fifth.
Bottas finished sixth. The Finn, who has replaced retired champion Nico Rosberg, dropped down the field after spinning behind the safety car.
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