Chinese Grand Prix-Like a Torpedo

Chinese Grand Prix-Like a Torpedo

We didn’t forget our review of the 13th Chinese Grand Prix, though given our proclivity to back to the red menace of Ferrari perhaps we should have.

China has always provided great racing but this would be the third race of 2016, and the third race in a row with great action throughout the field, unless you’re Nico Rosberg.  In Rosberg’s case, it was more a two hour driving clinic, as he pulled away from the field never to be seen by the other podium runners again going on to finish by the largest margin (37.7 seconds) in the history of the Chinese Grand Prix.  Rosberg has won all three races of this season and six in row counting from last season, becoming the 4th driver in history to win 6 races in a row, joining Sebastian Vettel, Michael Schumacher and Alberto Ascari. At the same time, Rosberg broke Sterling Moss’ record for most race wins without a championship.  He is also the first driver since Michael Schumacher to win the opening three races....and history has shown that the drivers that win the first three go on to win the world championship. 

Lewis Hamilton finished in 7th place after starting from last place, getting damage on the first lap and pitting 5 times throughout the race.  Hamilton showed some mettle in his performance, but it also showed the weakness of the Mercedes in traffic.  Running behind other cars had the Mercedes more twitchy than Pookie in New Jack City.

For Ferrari it was near disaster at the start. Vettel moved over to avoid a dive bombing Daniil Kvyat, ran into his teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, and the impact would knock Raikkonen back with Hamilton taking up the rear of the pack.  The Ferrari package looks strong this season but so far disasters in the opening stages of each of the first three races have made it difficult to see their true pace.  Vettel would finish second and share the podium with third place Kvyat.  The four-time champion would confront Kvyat in the post race cool down room, which was far from cool.