He started on pole and commanded the 54-lap race on a drying track to beat Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel into second place. The two men lead the table two races into the 20-round season.
The anticipated rain-lashed shenanigans did not fully materialise – there was some skidding off and two safety cars, one virtual and one actual, but the rain drifted away before the race began even though the clouds hung grey and murky over the track.
It was a sure-footed performance in the Mercedes by Hamilton to give him a record-extending fifth win here. It was made easier by Vettel being stuck behind the other, and slower, Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen for a large chunk of the early-mid race.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished third from 16th on the grid. Both the Dutchman and Vettel pulled off excellent overtakes on their team-mates at turn six. Although Vettel finally passed Verstappen, the youngster added lustre to his standing by carving his way up the field.
Hamilton started on intermediate tyres, the road still being wet in the morning drizzle. The virtual safety car was deployed early on when Williams teenager Lance Stroll went into the gravel.
Then Sauber’s Antonio Giovinazzi crashed on the start straight – losing control on a wet patch. It was almost the same place as he spun out in qualifying the day before – that time he skidded on the green paint after running wide. He did little to suggest that he could be a permanent replacement for Pascal Wehrlein, who is slowly getting himself up to fitness after an accident in the Race of Champions back in January…
MORE: Hamilton leads from start to finish to secure win in China | Daily Mail Online
No comments:
Post a Comment