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Hamilton dominates the Chinese Grand Prix

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton takes a corner during the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 9, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / WANG Zhao (Photo credit should read WANG ZHAO/AFP/Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

Carlos Sainz was the only driver who chose slick tyres for the race start, which made him lose lots of positions. Ricciardo overtook Räikkönen and Verstappen made up many positions after starting 16th and found himself in the top 10. Stroll had to retire after Pérez hit him in the first corners. This caused a Virtual Safety Car, which Vettel took advantadge of to change to slick tyres like most drivers were doing. He was then the virtual leader, but Giovinazzi’s accident on the main straight caused a Safety Car which left him 6th. Bottas spun with the Safety Car still on track and fell down to P12.

Verstappen overtook Ricciardo for P2, while the Aussie kept the Ferraris behind due to his slow pace. Räikkönen was unable to overtake Ricciardo, so Vettel had to get rid of his teammate in order to get ahead of the Red Bull. The Red Bulls had to pit again for supersofts, but Vettel, Bottas and Hamilton changed their soft tyres as well later on. Räikkönen stayed on track for a little longer even though his pace was very slow. Alonso had been holding on to P8 during the whole race, but his McLaren had chassis issues once again which put an end to his race.

Finally, nobody could beat Hamilton today and he took the victory in Shanghai ahead of Vettel and Verstappen. Ricciardo, Räikkönen, Bottas, Sainz, Magnussen, Pérez and Ocon got the last points of the race.