Formula 1 Hits 1000: Solid Perez Powers SportPesa Racing, Hamilton Rules
14th April 2019
Mexican ace works his way from 12th to finish eighth as world champion leads Mercedes to the Chinese Grand Prix 1-2 on Sunday
- Starting from 12th, Perez displayed admirable driving to climb four places up the grid to score his fifth point of the season as Hamilton led the third successive Mercedes 1-2 ahead of Valteri Bottas who was on pole as Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel closed the podium
- This was world champion Hamilton's sixth victory at the Chinese Grand Prix and second in a row this season
- Vettel, under pressure after a number of unforced errors going back to last season, went wheel-to-wheel with Verstappen after both pitted for fresh tyres
SHANGHAI, China- Mexican ace Sergio Perez collected solid points for SportPesa Racing Point Formula 1 Team as world champion Lewis Hamilton collected victory at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on Sunday.
Starting from 12th, Perez displayed admirable driving to climb four places up the grid to score his fifth point of the season as Hamilton led the third successive Mercedes 1-2 ahead of Valteri Bottas who was on pole as Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel closed the podium.
SportPesa Racing's second driver, Lance Stroll, finished 12th having started two places further down in the grid.
"Fantastic performance from Sergio Perez to pick up solid points in Shanghai. A battling drive from Lance Stroll. Some great fights out there," SportPesa Racing tweeted after another encouraging performance from the revamped team that has now scored in all three Formula 1 races this season to move up to eighth in the constructors' standings on seven points.
MUST READ: Formula 1 Hits 1000: SportPesa Racing's Perez, Stroll Upbeat, Bottas In Shanghai Pole
Hamilton won the 1,000th Formula One grand prix Sunday after grabbing the lead from Bottas at the first corner and powering to victory in blustery Shanghai.
Hamilton, who started from second on the grid, took the world championship lead after romping home to win the Chinese Grand Prix by more than 6.5 seconds from Bottas, with Vettel third.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull was fourth and Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari was fifth.
World champion
This was world champion Hamilton's sixth victory at the Chinese Grand Prix and second in a row this season.
MUST READ: Ikpeba, Kanalelo: Harambee Stars Are 2019 AFCON Dark Horses
"To have a one-two (for Mercedes) is really special in the 1,000th grand prix but the start was where it made the difference and the rest is history," said the Briton.
Second-placed Mercedes' Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas (L) and winner Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton (2nd R) spray champagne on a team member as third-placed Ferrari's German driver Sebastian Vettel (R) looks on, as they celebrate on the podium after the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 14, 2019. PHOTO/AFP
Hamilton was pipped for pole position by Bottas by just 0.023 seconds in qualifying and had said that he was "struggling with the car".
But the Finn laboured out of the blocks, allowing Hamilton to nip in and grab the lead at the first corner.
"I lost it on the start, honestly, shame about the start, I got some wheel spin on the start line," said Bottas, who also relinquished his hold on the standings after three races.
Talented 21-year-old Leclerc meanwhile pulled off the same trick at the start at the expense of his team-mate Vettel, darting into third.
MUST READ: Wanyama, Lucas Power Tottenham Past Relegated Huddersfield
There was more early drama when Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat tangled with both McLarens of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz, earning the Russian a drive-through penalty.
On lap 11, four-time world champion Vettel leapfrogged back in front of Monaco's Leclerc into third following radio orders from Ferrari telling the youngster to let him pass.
"We do our job, stay focused," Leclerc -- agonisingly denied victory last time out in Bahrain after his Ferrari lost power late on -- was informed on team radio after he briefly protested.
Back at the front, the 34-year-old Hamilton began pulling away, establishing a more than five-second gap on Bottas with a third of the race gone.
With five-time world champion Hamilton -- winner in Bahrain two weeks ago -- serene up top, the real battles unfolded behind him.
Vettel, under pressure after a number of unforced errors going back to last season, went wheel-to-wheel with Verstappen after both pitted for fresh tyres.
MUST READ: Pogba Double Revives Man United Top Four Charge
Vettel, Bottas and then Toro Rosso's Alexander Albon, who missed qualifying after a nasty crash in final practice, all exchanged fastest laps.
On lap 38 of the 56 it was Leclerc and Bottas who had a skirmish in the compelling battle for second.
Sluggish change
Leclerc then pitted and was momentarily held up by a comparatively sluggish change of tyres.
Nico Hulkenberg, who qualified eighth for Renault, saw his race come to an early conclusion after the team retired his faltering car.
Norris and Kvyat were also forced out before the end.
MUST READ: Shujaa Quarterfinals Hope Dented In Singapore7s After Loss To USA, England
The fourth race of the season takes place on the streets of Baku, in Azerbaijan, in a fortnight.
SHANGHAI GP RESULTS/Formula 1 standings
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes-AMG) 305km in 1hr 32min 08.734sec
2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Mercedes-AMG) at 6.552sec
3. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 13.744sec
4. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull-Honda) at 27.627sec
5. Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) at 31.276sec
6. Pierre Gasly (FRA/Red Bull-Honda) at 1min 29.307sec
7. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Renault) at 1 lap
8. Sergio Perez (MEX/Racing Point-Mercedes) at 1 lap
9. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) at 1 lap
10. Alexander Albon (THA/Toro Rosso-Honda) at 1 lap
11. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) at 1 lap
12. Lance Stroll (CAN/Racing Point-Mercedes) at 1 lap
13. Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas) at 1 lap
14. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/McLaren-Renault) at 1 lap
15. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA/Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari) at 1 lap
16. George Russell (GBR/Williams) at 2 laps
17. Robert Kubica (POL/Williams) at 2 laps
18. Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Renault) at 6 laps
Retirements:
Lap 17: Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Renault) mechanical problem
Lap 41: Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso-Honda) mechanical problem
Championship standings
Drivers:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) 68 pts
2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) 62
3. Max Verstappen (NED) 39
4. Sebastian Vettel (GER) 37
5. Charles Leclerc (MON) 36
6. Pierre Gasly (FRA) 13
7. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) 12
8. Lando Norris (GBR) 8
9. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) 8
10. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 6
11. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) 6
12. Sergio Perez (MEX) 5
13. Alexander Albon (THA) 3
14. Lance Stroll (CAN) 2
15. Daniil Kvyat (RUS)
Constructors:
1. Mercedes-AMG 130 pts
2. Ferrari 73
3. Red Bull-Honda 52
4. Renault 12
5. Alfa Romeo Racing-Ferrari 12
6. Haas 8
7. McLaren-Renault 8
8. Racing Point-Mercedes 7
9. Toro Rosso-Honda 4