Lewis Hamilton laid down another maker that he would be the man to beat in 2015 after dominating the Chinese Grand Prix for the second year in a row. However the Brit would be at the centre of controversy after being accused of deliberately slowing to back his team mate Nico Rosberg into the oncoming Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel.
Hamilton had a good start as most of the field left the grid in formation except Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo who went into anti-stall dropping the Aussie well down the field. Whereas iceman Kimi Raikkonen managed to pass the two Williams, whom had out qualified him on Saturday, within the first sector of the race.
Former Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat had an incident at the T6 hairpin on the first lap where the Russian made contact with the Toro Rosso of Max Verstappen, whom in Malaysia beat Kvyat's record of youngest points scorer in F1.
Hamilton had a good start as most of the field left the grid in formation except Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo who went into anti-stall dropping the Aussie well down the field. Whereas iceman Kimi Raikkonen managed to pass the two Williams, whom had out qualified him on Saturday, within the first sector of the race.
Former Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat had an incident at the T6 hairpin on the first lap where the Russian made contact with the Toro Rosso of Max Verstappen, whom in Malaysia beat Kvyat's record of youngest points scorer in F1.
The 17 once again drove as if he had been in F1 for years with some stunning overtakes during the race. The Dutch driver made a bold mover on the Sauber of Marcus Ericsson on lap 10 and Felipe Nasr on lap 20 at the penultimate corner which easily could've been contact.
Within the first 16 laps the Chinese GP had claimed two cars with a gearbox failure for Force India's Nico Hulkenberg, giving the team their first retirement of the season. It ended a bad weekend for the German whom Had been eliminated in Q1 for the first time since Belgium on Saturday.
The other victim was Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat whom ended another torrid weekend with a piston failure which ultimately led to an engine failure. It leaves both Red Bull drivers with only 1 of their allocated 4 engines for the year left after multiple issues with Red Bull and Renault.
It was after the first round of stops when Rosberg's complaints hit the TV screen with Rosberg asking for Hamilton to speed up. Followed by a call to Hamilton to target a slightly quicker lap time. The whole incident came about with Mercedes having to prolong the life of the Pirelli tyres after Ferrari made them change their strategy in the second stint.
Within the first 16 laps the Chinese GP had claimed two cars with a gearbox failure for Force India's Nico Hulkenberg, giving the team their first retirement of the season. It ended a bad weekend for the German whom Had been eliminated in Q1 for the first time since Belgium on Saturday.
The other victim was Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat whom ended another torrid weekend with a piston failure which ultimately led to an engine failure. It leaves both Red Bull drivers with only 1 of their allocated 4 engines for the year left after multiple issues with Red Bull and Renault.
It was after the first round of stops when Rosberg's complaints hit the TV screen with Rosberg asking for Hamilton to speed up. Followed by a call to Hamilton to target a slightly quicker lap time. The whole incident came about with Mercedes having to prolong the life of the Pirelli tyres after Ferrari made them change their strategy in the second stint.
On lap 32 Vettel pitted for the final time and to gain the undercut on Rosberg. The German pitted the following lap while Hamilton smashed the fastest lap time to create a buffer for his stop and showing how much life were left in his tyres, to Rosberg's annoyance.
With Vettel providing the undercut Kimi Raikkonen was attempting the overcut which saw him with 3 lap fresher tyres than Vettel whom had fallen away from the Mercedes. This began to leave the 4 time champion under threat towards the end of the race.
Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado had been having a great race until on lap 34 he over cooked his entrance to the pits forcing him down an escape road. The loos of time made the Venezuelan impatient leading to a spin a few laps later.
Max Verstappen continued to impress with an excellent move on Sergio Perez's Force India at the T6 hairpin seeing the teenager climb to 7th. Former Toro Rosso driver Daniel Ricciardo had also been in some spice racing as he batted with the Sauber of Marcus Ericsson throughout the race with the 3 time race winner coming out on top.
With Vettel providing the undercut Kimi Raikkonen was attempting the overcut which saw him with 3 lap fresher tyres than Vettel whom had fallen away from the Mercedes. This began to leave the 4 time champion under threat towards the end of the race.
Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado had been having a great race until on lap 34 he over cooked his entrance to the pits forcing him down an escape road. The loos of time made the Venezuelan impatient leading to a spin a few laps later.
Max Verstappen continued to impress with an excellent move on Sergio Perez's Force India at the T6 hairpin seeing the teenager climb to 7th. Former Toro Rosso driver Daniel Ricciardo had also been in some spice racing as he batted with the Sauber of Marcus Ericsson throughout the race with the 3 time race winner coming out on top.
After his many adventures Maldonado saw him battling with the McLaren Hondas of Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso for 13th place. Button and Maldonado had been wheel to wheel for most of lap 49 in superb fashion.
However when the 2009 World Champion went for the move at T1 he made contact with the Lotus. Button felt the wrath of the stewards after the race as the Brit received a time penalty and points on his licence. Whereas Maldonado had to retire the car with brake issues after the contact leading to his 3rd DNF out of 3 races in 2015.
With 3 laps to go Max Verstappen had an engine failure on the start finish straight leading to his DNF after a great race. The stranded Toro Rosso bought out the Safety Car which would end the race. Verstappen's team mate Carlos Sainz had, had a gearbox issue mid race which hampered him leaving Toro Rosso pointless this weekend.
However when the 2009 World Champion went for the move at T1 he made contact with the Lotus. Button felt the wrath of the stewards after the race as the Brit received a time penalty and points on his licence. Whereas Maldonado had to retire the car with brake issues after the contact leading to his 3rd DNF out of 3 races in 2015.
With 3 laps to go Max Verstappen had an engine failure on the start finish straight leading to his DNF after a great race. The stranded Toro Rosso bought out the Safety Car which would end the race. Verstappen's team mate Carlos Sainz had, had a gearbox issue mid race which hampered him leaving Toro Rosso pointless this weekend.
The clearance of the Italian teams car provoked some light humour for the fans as the Chinese marshals struggled to get the car into a service road into the pit lane. This led the mechanics to rush out and take off the front wing as to get the car into the pit lane.
But it was Lewis Hamilton who took the win and back to back victories in Shanghai, from Rosberg and the 2 Ferraris. The 2 Williams struggled for pace but managed to get a 5th and 6th place finish, Lotus scored their first points of the year with Grosjean in 7th and Sauber got another double points finish with 8th and 10th. Manor got their first 2 car finish as well with Will Stevens beating his team mate in their first race head to head.
Going to Bahrain next week, the scene of one of the races of the year in 2014 we hope that Rosberg, whom has been very quick their in recent years, can take the fight to Hamilton as well at the Ferrari's getting in the mix. But it was Hamilton who had the last laugh in China.
But it was Lewis Hamilton who took the win and back to back victories in Shanghai, from Rosberg and the 2 Ferraris. The 2 Williams struggled for pace but managed to get a 5th and 6th place finish, Lotus scored their first points of the year with Grosjean in 7th and Sauber got another double points finish with 8th and 10th. Manor got their first 2 car finish as well with Will Stevens beating his team mate in their first race head to head.
Going to Bahrain next week, the scene of one of the races of the year in 2014 we hope that Rosberg, whom has been very quick their in recent years, can take the fight to Hamilton as well at the Ferrari's getting in the mix. But it was Hamilton who had the last laugh in China.
2015 Chinese Grand Prix Result:-
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Nico Rosberg
3. Sebastian Vettel
4. Kimi Raikkonen
5. Felipe Massa
6. Valtteri Bottas
7. Romain Grosjean
8. Felipe Nasr
9. Daniel Ricciardo
10. Marcus Ericsson
11. Sergio Perez
12. Fernando Alonso
13. Carlos Sainz
14. Jenson Button
15. Will Stevens
16. Roberto Merhi
Max Verstappen DNF
Pastor Maldonado DNF
Daniil Kvyat DNF
Nico Hulkenberg DNF
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Nico Rosberg
3. Sebastian Vettel
4. Kimi Raikkonen
5. Felipe Massa
6. Valtteri Bottas
7. Romain Grosjean
8. Felipe Nasr
9. Daniel Ricciardo
10. Marcus Ericsson
11. Sergio Perez
12. Fernando Alonso
13. Carlos Sainz
14. Jenson Button
15. Will Stevens
16. Roberto Merhi
Max Verstappen DNF
Pastor Maldonado DNF
Daniil Kvyat DNF
Nico Hulkenberg DNF