SHANGHAI – Lewis Hamilton mastered Shanghai’s changing conditions and stayed clear of squabbling rivals to win the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Briton eased his Mercedes across the line 6.2 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.
Max Verstappen, who started 16th, finished a surprise third to hand his Red Bull team their 100th podium.
It was Hamilton’ 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.
“What I said to Sebastian as I left the last race … I said I’m coming back in the next one. When I got on the podium it was like ‘I told you’.”
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, lead the constructors’ standings by one point over Ferrari. (Reuters)