GP China 2019: victory for Lewis Hamilton over Bottas and Vettel

The Chinese Grand Prix recently ended which saw the triumph of Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton, followed by teammate Valtteri Bottas. First podium of the season for Sebastian Vettel, followed by: Verstappen, Leclerc, Gasly, Ricciardo, Perez, Raikkonen and Albon.

It wasn't an exciting race like the one in Bahrain, but faced with Mercedes' dominance there was little that could be done. A significant fact is that within the Ferrari team, there is already tension as Charles Leclerc has made it clear that he does not want to be number two. The Maranello team implemented the team order in favor of Vettel, but Mercedes was unbeatable today. Excellent performance for rookie Alexander Albon, who, starting from the pit lane, managed to finish in tenth position.

Race report:  Cloudy skies in Shanghai with 19 degrees in the air
and 29 on the track. During the formation lap, due to the cold track, there are two spins, those of Verstappen and Kubica.
Let's go! Quick start by Lewis Hamilton who mocks his teammate and puts himself in front of everyone. The Ferraris follow in third and fourth place
Leclerc and Vettel.

Contact! Kvyat hits Sainz's McLaren first and then Norris's. The two McLarens have to return immediately for the pit stop and the VSC is exposed.

Already on the second lap, Hamilton created a gap of three seconds from the Ferraris. Vettel today seems to be faster than Leclerc and communicates this to his race engineer on the seventh lap.

On the eighth lap, Daniil Kvyat served the drivetrhough, as he was responsible for the contact at the start.

Ferrari team radio on lap 10: “Charles, we have to go further
fast otherwise you have to let Seb pass." Then on the next lap the order is given to the Monegasque to let him pass. Leclerc doesn't take it very well.

"So"? Leclerc asks the team, who tells him to do his job and stay focused. Blocking for Vettel on lap 14.
The Monegasque doesn't give up and on lap 15, he tells the team "I'm wasting time".

Another Ferrari team radio for Vettel: “We have to push harder, can you do it?”

Nico Hulkenberg's Renault retired on lap 17. Verstappen came in for a tire change on the following lap, with white tyre. Vettel's pit stop on lap 19. Verstappen overtakes Vettel on lap 20 but the German doesn't have it and overtakes him again.

On lap 21 Leclerc was told to keep pushing, it's likely that they only wanted to make one stop with him. Vettel's fastest lap in 1.36.998. On the following lap Bottas pits with white tyres.

Lap 23: Pit stops for Hamilton and Leclerc both on hard tyres.
On the next lap, a fast lap for Bottas, while Hamilton asks the team: "Why did you stop Valtteri before me?".

Bottas approaches Hamilton on lap 25, the Englishman wasn't expecting it. Vettel meanwhile gave a 3 second gap to Verstappen.
Nice melee between Kevin Magnussen and Kimi Raikkonen on lap 26; the Finn has the upper hand and goes after Grosjean's other Haas and overtakes it on lap 29.

On lap 30 the Ferrari team radio to Leclerc: "Let's think about plan B". Albon overtakes Magnussen for eleventh place.

Lap 36: Vettel pits, following Verstappen's. Pit stops also for the Mercedes of Hamilton and Bottas. Leclerc gets the better of the Finn.
Bottas attacks Leclerc on lap 39 but the Monegasque regains his position. Bottas will overtake him on the next lap.

Sebastian Vettel overtakes his teammate on lap 43, Leclerc comes in for the pit stop. Retirement for Daniil Kvyat's Toro Rosso, a weekend to forget for the Russian. On lap 48 Hamilton asks the team if Valtteri is under pressure from Vettel. Lando Norris retires on lap 53.

With two laps to go, Gasly makes the pit stop on red tyre, he wants the fastest lap and he gets it. This brings us to the last lap with Alain Prost waving the checkered flag and Lewis Hamilton taking his second victory of the season.

The final ranking of the Shanghai Grand Prix

1 L. Hamilton Mercedes 1:32'06″350
2 V. Bottas Mercedes + 6″552
3 S. Vettel Ferrari + 13"744
4 M. Verstappen Red Bull + 27"627
5 C. Leclerc Ferrari + 31"276
6 P. Gasly Red Bull + 89"307
7 D. Ricciardo Renault + 1 lap
8 S. Perez Racing Point + 1 lap
9 K. Raikkonen Alfa Romeo + 1 lap
10 A. Albon Toro Rosso + 1 lap
11 R. Grosjean Haas + 1 lap
12 L. Stroll Racing Point + 1 lap
13 K. Magnussen Haas + 1 lap
14 C. Sainz McLaren + 1 lap
15 A. Giovinazzi Alfa Romeo + 1 lap
16 G. Russell Williams + 2 laps
17 R. Kubica Williams + 2 laps
18 D. Kvyat Toro Rosso Retirado
19 L. Norris McLaren Retirado
20 N. Hulkenberg Renault Retirado