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Home > Sports News > Other Sports News > Article > Lewis Hamilton wins fifth Chinese GP of F1 career

Lewis Hamilton wins fifth Chinese GP of F1 career

Updated on: 09 April,2017 03:43 PM IST  | 
Abhishek Takle |

Lewis Hamilton struck back at resurgent rivals Ferrari by taking an assured win in tricky conditions in Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton wins fifth Chinese GP of F1 career

Lewis Hamilton wins fifth Chinese GP of F1 career
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. Pic/AFP


Lewis Hamilton struck back at resurgent rivals Ferrari by taking an assured win in tricky conditions in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.

The Briton crossed the line 6.2 seconds ahead of Sebastian Vettel, winner of last month's season opening race in Australia, with Max Verstappen taking a surprise third for Red Bull, after having started as far back as 16th.

Yesterday's win was the 54th of Hamilton's career and his record fifth at Shanghai.

It was also his first win of the season and, with the Briton having finished second to Vettel in Melbourne, sees him heading into the next race in Bahrain tied on points at the top of the overall standings with the German.

"It's been a fantastic weekend and very, very grateful for all the efforts that the team have put in to enable us to be where we are and where I am today," said Hamilton after the race.

"I hope they're all celebrating back home. I hope they're feeling the spirit, I hope they're feeling the fight… because it's on."

Hamilton started yesterday's race from pole and, with the track partly wet and partly dry, kept the lead at the start.

Vettel, who came under investigation for lining up out of position on the grid, clung on the second off the line.

Williams rookie Lance Stroll spun out on the opening lap after contact with Force India's Sergio Perez, bringing out the virtual safety car.

Vettel used the opportunity to dive into the pits for a change to dry weather tyres but his gamble came undone when Antonio Giovinazzi, standing in for Pascal Wehrlein, crashed his Sauber on the start-finish straight.

The accident brought out the actual safety car, allowing Hamilton to make the switch to dry tyres without losing positions.

It also let the two Red Bulls of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, and Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen past the German.  

When racing resumed, Vettel found himself held up behind Ricciardo and Raikkonen. As the trio squabbled behind him, Hamilton — running in clear air at the front -- steadily pulled out a gap.

By the time Vettel found his way past, with some spectacular overtaking that included banging wheels with his former Red Bull team-mate, Hamilton was just too far ahead.

"The safety car came just when I was about to start to feel that the dry tyre was a lot quicker," said Vettel.

"So I couldn't use the momentum, the advantage and I lost a lot of positions.

"But then I had a very exciting race."

Ricciardo finished fourth, just 0.8 seconds behind Verstappen, after trying to pressure the Dutchman into a mistake in the dying stages of the 56-lap race.

Raikkonen was a frustrated fifth, his venting over the team radio making more of an impression on the race than his speed.

Valtteri Bottas was sixth. The Mercedes driver had started third but dropped down the order after spinning behind the safety car.

Both Force Indias made the points, with Mexican Sergio Perez in ninth and Mercedes-backed Esteban Ocon rounding out the top ten.



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