Chinese Grand Prix: Cruise for Rosberg as title rivals trip up

Nico Rosberg cruised to one of his most comprehensive victories in Formula 1 as he claimed his third win of the season, to extend his lead in the world championship standings, as his main rivals for the title tripped up in a dramatic race at Shanghai International Circuit.

The Mercedes driver won by over half a minute, from pole position Rosberg was beaten into turn one by Daniel Ricciardo, but the Red Bull driver's lead lasted only a few laps as he suffered a puncture and thus allowed Rosberg to claim the lead, where he stayed until the chequered flag waved to end the grand prix.

For much of the race the German must have wondered where everyone was as he carved a massive lead quite comfortable, even after a safety car period brought about to clean up debris that littered the track after a frantic first few lap of the race, which did not impact the winner but did so his title rivals.

Rosberg was clearly impressed with the kit at his disposal on the day as he told his team on the slow down lap, "That was the most incredible balance I have ever had in a race car. Really spectacular."

Later he reflected on the podium, "The start was not quite good enough with Daniel but then I had a really quick car today, really great, attacked straight away and was able to pull a big gap after that."

"We are going to have a party now in the garage - everyone deserves that - and then straight back home to my family. I can't wait to see them," added the world championship leader with a big grin.

Biggest losers in the first turn melee were the Ferrari duo of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen, who collided as Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat made an opportunist attack on the inside of the first turn complex and because three into one does not go, Vettel tagged Raikkonen's front wing while Kvyat scuttled past. Ferrari were instantly on the back foot for the rest of the race.

Raikkonen had to pit and he spent the afternoon recovering, with fifth his reward for the toil. Vettel's front wing was damaged but he soldiered on, the safety car period played in his favour, allowing the team to change the wing during his stop and at the end of the bright, sunny afternoon he salvaged second place for the Reds in front of Ferrari big boss Sergio Marchionne.

Vettel summed up, "It is difficult to judge how it was from Daniil Kvyat's point of view. Kimi locked up and I went wide to overtake him, Daniil was trying to do the same thing. He was coming with a lot of speed into that gap. I was very surprised and Kimi was coming across. In the end I was lucky because I could continue and he could continue."

"It was a very entertaining race," added the Ferrari driver.

Kvyat, who was scolded by Vettel immediately after the race, was unfazed and very happy to be on the podium after delivering s strong showing in the Red Bull. The former champions discovered impressive pace on the twisty bits of the Shanghai circuit. Teammate Ricciardo recovered well from his early misfortune to finish fourth.

Kvyat said, "I had a really good start, you see the gap and go for it. It's a risky move, but I am on the podium, Seb's on the podium."

Felipe Massa was in the thick of several battles, but by keeping out of trouble the Brazilian veteran scored sixth place for Williams, with teammate Valtteri Bottas claiming the final point with tenth.

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton was again dished out a might dollop of hard luck, after starting from the back of the grid the Mercedes driver was involved in the aftermath of the Ferrari versus Kvyat turn one altercation.

Hamilton's car tagged the Sauber of Nasr, which resulted in the front wing coming off and an early pitstop. The safety car period was a dash of good fortune but thereafter, perhaps with damage on the car coupled to (what turned out to be) bad calls on the revised tyre strategy, Hamilton salvaged seventh.

He reflected afterwards, "A difficult one. I got a good start and I tried to avoid whatever was happening in front of me but I got tangled in it. Every time I did a stop I was having to come through again. At the end there was nothing left in the tyres but that's racing. Onwards and upwards."

"This track is quite good as you can overtake but the car was pretty damaged, I think the suspension was damaged and the car was flexing like crazy. It was like a four-poster bed today," he added.

He just managed to keep at bay the Toro Rosso duo of Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz who ended eighth and ninth respectively.