April 18, 2010

Defending champion Jenson Button delivered a perfectly-judged drive in treacherous wet conditions to win a dramatic Chinese Grand Prix ahead of his McLaren team-mate, Lewis Hamilton.

The two British drivers delivered their first one-two of the season in sumptuous style to prove that though the Red Bull team may have the fastest car for qualifying, they retain great race performance.

The two Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, who had scored a one-two in Malaysia two weeks ago, came home sixth and eighth.

Button's triumph in a winning time of one hour, 46 minutes and 42.163 seconds was his second in four races since joining McLaren this season and the ninth of his career.

His early decision not to pit for intermediate tyres, when others acted hastily during an early rainstorm proved decisive.

It lifted him 10 points clear at the top of this year's drivers' championship ahead of Nico Rosberg, who finished third for the new Mercedes team.

Rosberg's veteran team-mate and compatriot, 41-year-old seven-times champion Michael Schumacher, struggled home 10th to claim a single point.

"Wow, what a victory! What a win!'' screamed Button over the team radio during his slowing-down lap.

"We really earned that one. Well done everybody.''

"When the safety car came out to clear debris from the track, my heart was in my mouth. This victory is very special, it means a lot. It was a tough race and we made the right call,'' he said later.

If Button demonstrated smooth style, perfect skills and great management of tyres, it was Hamilton who produced the thrills in a race punctuated by rain storms, accidents and two safety car periods by charging through the field in a flurry of passing moves.

Hamilton was also involved in a dramatic pit-lane wheel-to-wheel racing duel with Vettel, an incident that was due to be investigated after the race by the stewards.

"The team released me at what they thought was the right time. I got quite a bit of wheel-spin when I left and I noticed Sebastian was there and he pushed me a little to the right. But I think it was OK,'' he said.

The two Red Bulls started from the front row of the grid, but lost their advantage almost immediately when, after Alonso had jumped the start, the first Safety Car call was followed by rain.

Webber said Red Bull were unable to cope with the strategic and racing demands of the race.

"We got blown away, so it was a very difficult Grand Prix for us. We just weren't quick enough, simple as that. We know we have to improve that,'' he said.

"They were difficult, changeable conditions, but they are the same for everyone and the car, our car, is sensitive in these conditions. It is not going one way or the other for you... An interesting Grand Prix!''

"I think we know where we lost it and we have got to improve it. ''

Red Bull have dominated qualifying this season in all four races and taken four pole positions, but their race results have not followed and they have won only once.

The result gave McLaren their first one-two finish since the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in 2001. Button now leads the title race on 60 points ahead of Rosberg on 50 with Alonso and Hamilton equal third on 49.


Result
1. Jenson Button (ENG/MLA) 1hr 46min 42.163sec

2. Lewis Hamilton (ENG/MLA) +1.530

3. Nico Rosberg (GER/MER) 9.484

4. Fernando Alonso (ESP/FER) 11.869

5. Robert Kubica (POL/REN) 22.213

6. Sebastian Vettel (GER/RBR) 33.310

7. Vitaly Petrov (RUS/REN) 47.600

8. Mark Webber (AUS/RBR) 52.172

9. Felipe Massa (BRA/FER) 57.796

10. Michael Schumacher (GER/MER) 1min 1.749

11. Adrian Sutil (GER/FOR) 1min 2.874

12. Rubens Barrichello (BRA/WIL) 1min 3.665

13. Jaime Alguersuari (ESP/TOR) 1min 11.416

14. Heikki Kovalainen (FIN/LOT) 1 lap

15. Nico Hulkenberg (GER/WIL) 1 lap

16. Bruno Senna (BRA/HRT) 2 laps

17. Karun Chandhok (IND/HRT) 4 laps

Driver Team Pts
1 Jenson Button (GBR) Lotus 60
2 Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes GP 50
3 Fernando Alonso (ESP) Ferrari 49
4 Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Lotus 49
5 Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull 45
6 Felipe Massa (BRA) Ferrari 41
7 Robert Kubica (POL) Renault 40
8 Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull 28
9 Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India 10
10 Michael Schumacher (GER) Mercedes GP 10
11 Vitantonio Liuzzi (ITA) Force India 8
12 Vitaly Petrov (RUS) Renault 6
13 Rubens Barrichello (BRA) Williams 5
14 Jaime Alguersuari (ESP) Toro Rosso 2
15 Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Williams 1
16 Sebastien Buemi (SUI) Toro Rosso 0
17 Pedro de la Rosa (ESP) BMW Sauber 0
18 Heikki Kovalainen (FIN) Lotus 0
19 Karun Chandhok (IND) HRTF1 0
20 Lucas di Grassi (BRA) Virgin 0
21 Bruno Senna (BRA) HRTF1 0
22 Jarno Trulli (ITA) Lotus 0
23 Timo Glock (GER) Virgin 0
24 Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) BMW Sauber 0

Team Pts
1 Lotus 109
2 Ferrari 90
3 Red Bull 73
4 Mercedes GP 60
5 Renault 46
6 Force India 18
7 Williams 6
8 Toro Rosso 2
9 BMW Sauber 0
10 Lotus 0
11 HRTF1 0
12 Virgin 0