Hamilton leads third straight Mercedes one-two at F1 Chinese GP

Source:Xinhua Published: 2014-4-20 21:21:31

Lewis Hamilton grabbed his third straight triumph of this season Sunday at the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix and the win also gave Mercedes the third straight one-two finish with Nico Rosberg sealed a far second place.

Hamilton, pole-sitter, won the race comfortably and never had been challenged in a time of one hour 35 minutes 9.751 seconds, 18.6 seconds better off his German teammate Rosberg, who was followed by Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, who had his first podium finish this season.

Rosberg, who started from the fourth place, fell to sixth at the beginning, but caught back to third after 13 laps after four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel had his first pit stop.

Hamilton took first pit stop in lap 18 with a lead of more than 30 seconds over second-placed Alonso, who was the first to take pit among top five.

Rosberg overtook Vettel in lap 23 to reach the third place after Alonso, who still maintained six-second advantage over the German.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo slipped past his teammate Vettel in lap 26 to have fourth place and never let it away.

Vettel also extended the fifth place to the end.

Hamilton built up a comfortable lead of 12.9 seconds over Alonso after 28 laps, half of the 56-lap race, while the Spaniard was still 3.6 seconds ahead of Rosberg, but the German's powerful Silver Arrow helped him steadfastly to get rid of Alonso's advantage as race progressed. In lap 33, Mercedes radio wired Rosberg "push hard now to pass Alonso" as the two were just one second away.

Alonso entered the pit lane for the second time in lap 34 to give up the second place temperarily to Rosberg, who was 17.9 seconds behind his race leader Hamilton.

Rosberg and Ricciardo had second pit both in lap 38 and Alonso successfully retook the second place from Rosberg, who was 3.4 seconds better than fourth placed Ricciardo. Hamilton kept a strong lead of 12.7 seconds over Alonso after the 2008 champion got out of the pit for second time in lap 39.

Rosberg finally powered through Alonso in lap 43 and gave Mercedes the third one-two finish in a row.

Hamilton maintained a consistent performance all through the race, claiming the fastest lap of 1:41.196 in the race.

Rosberg still keeps the drivers standings with 79 points, but sees a narrowed lead of just 4 points over Hamilton.

Alonso moved one place up to third with 41.

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