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Formula 1
Chinese GP
2010 Chinese Grand Prix Race day at Shanghai International Circuit
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It was touch and go at one stage, but the rain came and delivered a superb race this afternoon with Jenson Button proving he is the cream of the crop in changeable conditions in 2010.
There are tales of woe throughout the field. Sebastian Vettel only placed sixth. He fared better than Webber and Massa who both had a disastrous race.
Button takes a clear lead in the championship. But before the next round in Spain, everyone in Shanghai has another race on their hands - the race to get home thanks to the volcanic ash plume and the European no fly zone.
This was the Chinese Grand Prix weekend here on AUTOSPORT Live. We hope you have enjoyed the coverage over the last three days. We will be back for the sport's return to Europe with the Spanish Grand Prix weather forecast on Monday 3rd May.
There are tales of woe throughout the field. Sebastian Vettel only placed sixth. He fared better than Webber and Massa who both had a disastrous race.
Button takes a clear lead in the championship. But before the next round in Spain, everyone in Shanghai has another race on their hands - the race to get home thanks to the volcanic ash plume and the European no fly zone.
This was the Chinese Grand Prix weekend here on AUTOSPORT Live. We hope you have enjoyed the coverage over the last three days. We will be back for the sport's return to Europe with the Spanish Grand Prix weather forecast on Monday 3rd May.
A very eventful race shuffles the title order to put Button on top of the standings as we head for Europe. McLaren also top the constructors' table on a day when Red Bull again didn't score well.
World Championship standings, round 4:
Drivers: Constructors:
1. Button 60 1. McLaren-Mercedes 109
2. Rosberg 50 2. Ferrari 90
3. Alonso 49 3. Red Bull-Renault 73
4. Hamilton 49 4. Mercedes 60
5. Vettel 45 5. Renault 46
6. Massa 41 6. Force India-Mercedes 18
7. Kubica 40 7. Williams-Cosworth 6
8. Webber 28 8. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 2
The champagne sprays on the podium after a dramatic and eventful Chinese Grand Prix. From there they leave for the rounds of interviews.
Nico Rosberg takes his award after a strong drive to third this afternoon - his second podium of the season.
Lewis Hamilton takes his trophy for second place. He got very close to his team-mate but it's Button who has two wins on the board.
McLaren chief engineer Tim Goss collects the constructors' prize.
Jenson Button picks up the trophy for his ninth career win after a brilliant drive from the world champion.
God Save The Queen rings out over the Shanghai International Circuit to honour Jenson Button and McLaren - winners of today's great race in the wet.
Seven drivers failed to finish the Chinese Grand Prix:
Jarno Trulli retired in the pits at the halfway mark.
Lucas di Grassi also retired in the pits after a very difficult afternoon.
Pedro de la Rosa dropped out of a strong fourth place.
Sebastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi and Tonio Liuzzi were all involved in a shunt on the first lap.
Timo Glock failed to start the race after being left on the grid. He would have been the only driver to start the race on intermediate tyres.
Jarno Trulli retired in the pits at the halfway mark.
Lucas di Grassi also retired in the pits after a very difficult afternoon.
Pedro de la Rosa dropped out of a strong fourth place.
Sebastien Buemi, Kamui Kobayashi and Tonio Liuzzi were all involved in a shunt on the first lap.
Timo Glock failed to start the race after being left on the grid. He would have been the only driver to start the race on intermediate tyres.
The McLaren team are jubilant as they celebrate a fine one-two.
Hamilton is back in the pits with very worn intermediates on his McLaren. He steps out to congratulate team-mate Button.
Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok give HRT a double finish in 16th and 17th positions.
Kovalainen brings the Lotus T127 home in 14th. Nico Hulkenberg was 15th. At one stage the German was 95 seconds behind the Lotus. He spent the second half of the race catching it but failed to reach him by nine seconds.
Button tours back slowly in his winning McLaren, waving to the crowd.
Sutil finished just 1.1 seconds behind Schumacher in 11th, with Barrichello on his tail in 12th and Alguersuari 13th.
Mark Webber crosses the line in eighth place after a difficult race. Massa was ninth over the line and Schumacher holds on for the final point in tenth.
Button is delighted on the radio with his second win of the year for McLaren.
Petrov takes seventh after a great drive in his Renault.
Kubica and Vettel score solid points with fifth and sixth.
Alonso takes a battling fourth after failing to find a way past Rosberg in the closing stages.
Rosberg takes another podium for Mercedes but he couldn't hold off the McLarens this afternoon.
Lewis Hamilton makes it a great McLaren one-two with another race full of overtaking, but he will have to visit the stewards' room later on.
The world champion made another decisive move to stay on slicks, while others pitted, and went on to another brilliant wet-weather win.
Jenson Button wins the 2010 Chinese Grand Prix!
Lap 56: Massa does have a second go, again at Turn 14 and once again Schumacher defends heavily. But Massa has the traction out of the hairpin and steams through into ninth position.
Schumacher then runs wide on to the astroturf at the final corner.
Schumacher then runs wide on to the astroturf at the final corner.
Lap 56: Hamilton is told to be careful as the rain is getting heavier.
Lap 56: Undaunted, Massa has caught right up to the back of Schumacher again and will have another go for ninth place.
Lap 56: Button is over the line to begin his final lap.
Lap 55: Hamilton is now just 2.7 seconds behind Button with two laps remaining.
Lap 54: Massa tows up behind the Mercedes and Schumacher defends the inside. The Ferrari driver can't make the move stick round the outside into Turn 14 as the German robustly defends his line and keeps the place.
Lap 54: It is tip-toe stuff for the McLarens but Rosberg is still over seven seconds behind with three laps to go.
Lap 53: Massa is now right on Schumacher's tail as the fight for ninth hots up.
Lap 53: Barrichello in 12th is catching Sutil and we could have another battle for position before the end of the race.
Lap 53: Hamilton has two major moments of his own on the next lap as the McLaren pair make it to within four laps of the flag.
Lap 52: Felipe Massa in tenth is now three seconds behind the Mercedes and catching at two seconds per lap. Sutil is now dropping back in 11th.
Lap 52: Here we go ... Petrov sends a move up the inside of Schumacher who has absolutely no answer. Petrov takes eighth at Turn 14.
Lap 52: Button is now 5.3 seconds up on team-mate Hamilton as the drivers struggle with rapidly degrading tyres.
Lap 52: Button has a major moment at the hairpin with five laps to go. The leader outbraked himself, running wide over the asphalt but he continues.
Lap 51: Petrov pulls in another three seconds on eighth placed Schumacher and they are tied together in a battle for position.
By: Emlyn Hughes, Geoff Creighton
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