 Kimi Raikkonen took victory ahead of Fernando Alonso in a hugely dramatic wet-dry Chinese Grand Prix.
The
result means that Formula 1 is set for its first three-way final round
world championship decider since 1986 after Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of
clinching the title in China were ruined when he slid off on
clapped-out tyres.
The 22-year-old Briton dominated the first
part of the race in damp and greasy conditions, but his intermediate
tyres degraded badly on a drying track in the middle stint until the
right-rear was worn down to the canvas.
First Hamilton lost the lead to Kimi Raikkonen, who went on to claim
his fifth victory of the season and keep his title hopes alive.
Then disaster struck as he finally came in for new rubber on lap 32
only to lose control in the pit entry lane and bog down in the gravel.
Outpaced by Hamilton again, Fernando Alonso drove a hard race to
finish second and slash his team-mate’s title lead to just four points.
Felipe Massa came home third in the second Ferrari, while Sebastian
Vettel used a one-stop strategy to claim a miraculous fourth place for
Toro Rosso.
Tonio Liuzzi completed a stellar day for the small Italian outfit by finishing sixth.
The inclement conditions allowed Jenson Button to shine, the Briton taking a season-high fifth for Honda.
Nick Heidfeld took the flag in seventh and David Coulthard just held off Heikki Kovalainen for the final point.
Chinese Grand Prix result - 56 laps
1. RAIKKONEN Ferrari
2. ALONSO McLaren +9.8s
3. MASSA Ferrari +12.8s
4. VETTEL Toro Rosso +53.5s
5. BUTTON Honda +1m08.6s
6. LIUZZI Toro Rosso +1m13.6s
7. HEIDFELD BMW +1m14.2s
8. COULTHARD Red Bull +1m20.7s
9. KOVALAINEN Renault +1m21.1s
10. WEBBER Red Bull +1m24.6s
11. FISICHELLA Renault +1m26.6s
12. WURZ Williams +1 lap
13. TRULLI Toyota +1 lap
14. SATO Super Aguri +1 lap
15. BARRICHELLO Honda +1 lap
16. ROSBERG Williams +2 laps
17. YAMAMOTO Spyker +3 laps
R. KUBICA BMW +23 laps
R. HAMILTON McLaren +26 laps
R. SCHUMACHER Toyota +31 laps
R. SUTIL Spyker +32 laps
R. DAVIDSON Super Aguri +45 laps
source: itv-f1.com
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