Track Torque: Hat-trick for Hamilton
The former world champ proved express in Shanghai.
LEWIS Hamilton completed a hat-trick of wins in Shanghai, China last Sunday and matched the 25 grand prix wins of Jim Clark and Niki Lauda.
It was a dominant demonstration of superiority over the cream of the grand prix crop. His Mercedes teammate, Nico Rosberg, made a slow getaway at the start and spent much of the race in fourth position.
But a gritty drive gave him the second spot that the Silver Arrows team desired. He lacked telemetry on his car during the race.
Fernando Alonso once again drove a great race and, to the delight of Ferrari fans, came home third onto the podium in an improved prancing horse!
Daniel Ricciardo’s luck held this time as he forced his way past Sebastian Vettel and raced his car on into a very creditable fourth position.
The team had asked Vettel to give way to Ricciardo but he was reluctant to do so. The current world champion finished in fifth place.
The underrated Nico Hulkenberg again drove a very good race in the Force India Mercedes, to take sixth spot, while Valtterri Bottas retained his grid position to finish seventh in the race, in a much better current Williams Mercedes, compared to the cars of recent years.
Kimi Raikkonen was disappointing in both qualifying and in the race and just doesn’t seem to have found his feet yet at Ferrari.
Sergio Perez did better than Jenson Button to earn some championship points in ninth position but the McLarens have not picked up on the promise shown at the beginning of the season.
Their hope is for a big upgrade to bring them back on form when they return to Europe in the next race at the Spanish Grand Prix on May 11.
The extroverted Russian, Daniil Kvyat again earned points after a good race, rounding out the top 10 in a Toro Rosso Renault.
Drivers: 1 Nico Rosberg 79; 2 Lewis Hamilton 75; 3 Fernando Alonso 41; 4 Nico Hulkenberg 36; 5 Sebastian Vettel 33; 6 Daniel Ricciardo 24, Valtteri Bottas 24; 8 Jenson Button 23; 9 Kevin Magnussen 20; 10 Sergio Perez 18.
Constructors: 1 Mercedes 154; 2 Red Bull Renault 57; 3 Force India Mercedes 54; 4 Ferrari 52; 5 McLaren 43; 6 Williams McLaren 36; 7 Toro Rosso Renault 8.
