Chinese Grand Prix LIVE results: Lewis Hamilton wins F1’s 1,000th GP ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Sebastian vettel
Re-live the action from the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Lewis Hamilton took his second consecutive victory to seize the world championship lead after a perfect performance in winning the Chinese Grand Prix.
In what was Formula One's 1,000th race in history, Hamilton beat Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas off the line into turn one, and never looked back. Behind, Bottas was able to hold off the Ferraris with ease, given their intra-team battle that threatens to boil over. Ferrari used early team orders to release Sebastian Vettel, gifting him third place but infuriating Charles Leclerc.
And subsequently, Leclerc lost fourth place to Red Bull's Max Verstappen, with the fallout from Ferrari's decision set to rumble on to the next race in Baku. Re-live the live updates below.
What time does it start?
The Chinese Grand Prix begins at 7:10am BST on Sunday 14 April.
Where can I watch it?
The race will be shown live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event. Highlights will be shown on Channel 4 from 3pm.
Starting grid
1 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1min 31.547secs
2 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:31.570
3 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:31.848
4 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:31.865
5 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:32.089
6 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Red Bull 1:32.930
7 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Renault 1:32.958
8 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:32.962
9 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 No time set
10 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 No time set
11 Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:33.236
12 Sergio Perez (Mex) Racing Point 1:33.299
13 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Alfa Romeo Racing 1:33.419
14 Carlos Sainz (Spa) McLaren 1:33.523
15 Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1:33.967
16 Lance Stroll (Can) Racing Point 1:34.292
17 George Russell (Gbr) Williams 1:35.253
18 Robert Kubica (Pol) Williams 1:35.281
19 Antonio Giovinazzi (Ita) Alfa Romeo Racing No time set
20 Alexander Albon (Tha) Scuderia Toro Rosso No time set
Lap 20: Verstapppen has DRS on the back straight and goes for it! Vettel fights back on the inside and pushes Verstappen wide and virtually off the track, and that will only anger the fiery Dutchman more. Leclerc doesn't pit by the way, but this is the battle we wanted after qualifying!
Lap 21: Ferrari are giving Verstappen the place here as they tell Leclerc to "go as long as possible thinking about the end of the race". It looks like they're playing the long game, which may be a sensible move with Verstappen held behind Vettel. Meanwhile, Vettel sets a flying lap time that is the fastest of the race so far, and that'll kick Mercedes into gear.
Lap 22: Bottas pits from second, but there will be no undercut here as he was a long way back from the race leader Hamilton. It's a smooth stop and emerges out in third behind Leclerc, who is yet to stop.
Lap 23: Hamilton pits from the lead and he will reemerge in the lead as Ferrari stop Leclerc. That's not as far as we'd thought he'd go, and that will really hurt him against Verstappen.
Lap 24: The gap from Verstappen in fourth to Leclerc in fifth is nine seconds, showing the amount of time in the undercut in just six laps. However, Nico Rosberg - with Sky Sports F1 this weekend - believes it will bring him into play late in the race with the fresher tyres, albeit only for fourth place.
Lap 25: So after that round of stops, the action must have settled down right? Wrong. By pitting Bottas first, Mercedes have protected the second-placed man from the Ferraris but they've put him onto the back of Hamilton! Two consecutive flying laps has cut the gap out in front to 1.4s and Bottas is getting more out of the medium tyres here. We have a battle for the lead on our hands.
Our friends at Pirelli have pointed this out just as Kimi Raikkonen dives into the pits:
He's back out in 11th behind Magnussen and the two immediately go to battle, with the Alfa Romeo getting the better to lift himself back into the top 10.
HALFWAY STAGELap 27: So as we clear halfway of this 56-lap race, here's how we stand:
1. Hamilton
2. Bottas +2.4
3. Vettel +10.3
4. Verstappen +14.2
5. Leclerc +23.0
Lap 29: After those nervous moments, Hamilton has settled back into his pace and built a gap to Bottas. It may give Mercedes food for thought if they want to stop again, as will they risk Bottas first knowing what it could lead to? Meanwhile, Kimi is on the move as he gets Grosjean at the final hairpin to take ninth, holding the Haas off throughout turns one and two.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments