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Lewis Hamilton wins thrilling Chinese grand prix

• Lewis Hamilton enjoys first F1 win of season
• Sebastian Vettel beaten into second, with Mark Webber third



  • Paul Weaver in Shanghai
  • guardian.co.uk, Sunday 17 April 2011 09.56 BST <li class="history">Article history
    Lewis-Hamilton-007.jpg
    Lewis Hamilton drives towards victory in the Chinese grand prix in Shanghai. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters

    Lewis Hamilton and McLaren returned to their thrilling best here as the British driver won the Chinese grand prix, his first victory since the Spa race eight months ago.
    Hamilton was just 35 seconds away from having to start in the pit-lane because of a fuel problem a few minutes before the start of the race, but he overcame that as well a three-stop strategy to pass Sebastian Vettel (two stops) coming out of turn six on the 52nd lap. Even the ebullient Hamilton has rarely shown as much emotion as this.
    After a respectful bow in the direction of the Chinese crowd he flung himself into the embracing arms of the McLaren crew. He kissed a TV camera and then hugged Vettel. "It's been a long, long time," he said. "I can't remember the last time I won a race." Having also won here in 2008, he became the first two-time winner of the Chinese grand prix.
    He added: "I feel absolutely overwhelmed. It was a worry before the race, when the car wouldn't start. But I tried not to show I was concerned.
    "I think today the strategy that we came up with definitely helped. My new-option tyres seemed to last longer. The pit stops were fantastic. The car felt great and I was trying to nurse my tyres while picking up pace. It was one of the best races I've experienced. It feels amazing to be able to bring home a victory for the guys in the factory."
    After the chaotic, stop-laden even in Malaysia last week, this was a better race, full of cut-and-thrust manoeuvres, daring overtaking and contrasting tactics.
    There was a stunning drive from Red Bull's Mark Webber, who started in 18th place on the slower, hard tyres, and worked his way up to third, overtaking Jenson Button at the end.
    Button made a bad mistake on lap 15, when he stopped at the Red Bull pit instead of the one manned by his waiting McLaren mechanics. The Red Bull team waved him on but both Button and Vettel, who was right behind him, were delayed. "I was looking down and when I looked back up I could see I was in the wrong place," said Button.
    Vettel said: "We had this problem with Toro Rosso before. I don't know what attracts people to stop in our garage
    Both McLarens made a brilliant start, passing a ponderous looking Vettel. But Vettel's two-stop plan appeared to be paying dividends until his tyres started to wear in the dying laps of the race and Hamilton hunted him down.
    "He made a great move on me which I didn't expect," said Vettel. Hamilton, who also got the better of a tussle with Button, added: "No one made it easy today and that makes this win all the more pleasing."

 
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