Reverend
October 19th, 2008, 18:33 PM
Lewis Hamilton has moved to the brink of the world title with a commanding victory in the Chinese Grand Prix.
The McLaren driver dominated the race at Shanghai while his title rival Felipe Massa was handed second place by Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.
The Brazilian had run third for most of the event, unable to stay on terms with Hamilton or Raikkonen ahead of him.
Hamilton takes a seven-point lead over Massa into the season finale in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 2 November.
With a maximum of 10 points available, the 23-year-old Englishman will be a strong favourite to become the youngest champion in F1 history at Interlagos.
Just as importantly, Hamilton's margin is large enough that he will win the title in Brazil as long as he finishes fifth or higher.
"This is another step towards the championship, my dream and the team's dream," said Hamilton.
"We didn't want to go out and win everything in this race but to look to the two races. [This victory] was quite straightforward but it will be tough in Brazil with Ferrari pushing hard."
The third man who entered the Chinese race in the championship reckoning, BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica, is out of the running after finishing sixth.
Renault's Fernando Alonso was fourth, unable to stay with the Ferraris, but well clear of everyone else.
Nick Heidfeld of BMW took fifth after McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen suffered a puncture with 20 laps to go, with Toyota's Timo Glock and Renault's Nelson Piquet taking the final points positions in seventh and eighth.
Chinese Grand Prix Result:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes
2. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari
4. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault
5. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber
6. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber
7. Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota
8. Nelson Piquet (Brz) Renault
Championship Standings:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 94 pts
2. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 87
3. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 75
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 69
5. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 60
6. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 53
7. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren 51
8. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 30
Constructors' Championship:
1. Ferrari 156 pts
2. McLaren-Mercedes 145
3. BMW Sauber 135
4. Renault 72
5. Toyota 52
Full race report: BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7678482.stm)
The McLaren driver dominated the race at Shanghai while his title rival Felipe Massa was handed second place by Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.
The Brazilian had run third for most of the event, unable to stay on terms with Hamilton or Raikkonen ahead of him.
Hamilton takes a seven-point lead over Massa into the season finale in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on 2 November.
With a maximum of 10 points available, the 23-year-old Englishman will be a strong favourite to become the youngest champion in F1 history at Interlagos.
Just as importantly, Hamilton's margin is large enough that he will win the title in Brazil as long as he finishes fifth or higher.
"This is another step towards the championship, my dream and the team's dream," said Hamilton.
"We didn't want to go out and win everything in this race but to look to the two races. [This victory] was quite straightforward but it will be tough in Brazil with Ferrari pushing hard."
The third man who entered the Chinese race in the championship reckoning, BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica, is out of the running after finishing sixth.
Renault's Fernando Alonso was fourth, unable to stay with the Ferraris, but well clear of everyone else.
Nick Heidfeld of BMW took fifth after McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen suffered a puncture with 20 laps to go, with Toyota's Timo Glock and Renault's Nelson Piquet taking the final points positions in seventh and eighth.
Chinese Grand Prix Result:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes
2. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari
4. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault
5. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber
6. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber
7. Timo Glock (Ger) Toyota
8. Nelson Piquet (Brz) Renault
Championship Standings:
1. Lewis Hamilton (GB) McLaren-Mercedes 94 pts
2. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari 87
3. Robert Kubica (Pol) BMW Sauber 75
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 69
5. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW Sauber 60
6. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 53
7. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) McLaren 51
8. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 30
Constructors' Championship:
1. Ferrari 156 pts
2. McLaren-Mercedes 145
3. BMW Sauber 135
4. Renault 72
5. Toyota 52
Full race report: BBC Sport (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7678482.stm)