Results of the 2010 Chinese F1 Grand Prix.
The 2010 Chinese Grand Prix saw a turnaround for Team McLaren-Mercedes, with a one-two finish, booting Team Red Bull from the podium. Since the start of the Chinese Grand Prix in 2004, no driver has won the Grand Prix twice and Jenson Button's win continues this streak. Jenson Button managed to fend of aggressive overtaking maneuvers by teammate Lewis Hamiton to maintain the lead. Hamilton ended up coming in second place, followed by Nico Rosberg in third.
Coming from his win at the Malaysian Grand Prix, Sebastian Vettel showed impressive driving skills and strategy to win pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix. This is Vettel's third pole position in four races, an impressive record. Second position on the grid was taken by teammate Mark Webber, followed by Fernando Alonso.
Michael Schumacher continues his mediocre placing, with only a 9th place on the grid. Lewis Hamilton actually posted the fastest lap on the Shanghai track, but only managed 6th position on the grid. Karun Chandhok was given a five place grid penalty for making a mechanical change without a FIA steward present. But since Chandhok qualified in 24th position anyway, this penalty was mute.
The Chinese Grand Prix started with some light rain, weather always being a factor at this Grand Prix. The rain played havoc and created difficult driving conditions, with winners and losers partially being determined by the drivers' choice of tyres. Winner Jenson Button decided to start with slicks and change to intermediates in lap 19, whereas most drivers changed to intermediates prior to the start of the race. This determined the eventual outcome of the podium.
Off the bat, three drivers had to start from the pit lane: Timo Glock, Lucas di Grassi and Karun Chandhok. Timo Glock was never able to start the race, after engine failure. Lucas di Grassi had to retire after lap 9 with clutch problems. Already in the first lap, in turn six, Vitantonio Liuzzi spun, crashing into Kamui Kobayashi and Sebastien Buemi. This makes Kobayashi and Glock the only two drivers who have yet to finish a Grand Prix race this season.
There was plenty of overtaking on the wet track, leading to an exciting race. After the initial accident, the race of was accident free. The heavier rain during the final laps of the race made the rear part of the track wetter, giving Vitaly Petrov a chance to overtake Alguersuari and veteran drivers, Schumacher and Webber, by staying with his intermediary tyres. Petrov managed to come in 7th, scoring his first points this season and first F1 Grand Prix finish, he had to retire from the first three races.
Full Race Results
- Jenson Button (McLaren-Mercedes) 1:46:42.163
- Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes) +1.5s
- Nico Rosberg (Mercedes GP) +9.4s
- Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) +11.8
- Robert Kubica (Renault) +22.2s
- Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull-Renault) +33.3s
- Vitaly Petrov (Renault) Retired +47.6s
- Mark Webber (Red Bull-Renault) +52.1s
- Felipe Massa (Ferrari) +57.7s
- Michael Schumacher (Mercedes GP) +61.7s
- Adrian Sutil (Force India-Mercedes) +62.8s
- Rubens Barrichello (Williams-Cosworth) +63.6s
- Jaime Alguersuari (Torro Rosso-Ferrari) +71.4s
- Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus-Cosworth) +1 lap
- Nico Hulkenberg (Williams-Cosworth) +1 lap
- Bruno Senna (Hispania-Cosworth) +2 laps
- Karun Chandhok (Hispania-Cosworth) +4 laps
- Jarno Trulli (Lotus-Cosworth) Retired, 21 laps
- Lucas di Grassi (Virgin-Cosworth) Retired, 9 laps
- Pedro de la Rosa (BMW Sauber-Ferrari) Retired, 8 laps
- Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso- Ferrari) Accident
- Kamui Kobayashi (BMW Sauber-Ferrari) Accident
- Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India-Mercedes) Accident
- Timo Glock (Virgin-Cosworth) Did not start