Hamilton wins Chinese GP to share lead

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton dominated the Chinese Grand Prix to take his first win of the year and move into a share of the championship lead.

Hamilton’s victory, in a race enlivened by a wet start and some terrific wheel-to-wheel battles, ties him with first-race winner Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel was second, hardening impressions that 2017 will be a fight between the two multiple champions. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen moved up from 16th on the grid to finish third.

The grand prix could have swung in favour of either Hamilton or Vettel depending on how events had played out.

In the end, fate decided for Hamilton, who was able to control the race from the front throughout and respond to his pursuers, who were always kept well out of arm’s length.

Vettel had to fight back after losing out on strategy in a chaotic opening, which kept the shape of the race in doubt through a series of incidents and accidents.

Verstappen further heightened his already burgeoning reputation as one of F1’s most exciting drivers with a strong performance to challenge Hamilton early on.

The Dutchman, up from 16th to seventh on the first lap, took the final podium spot, but was under pressure in the closing laps from his more measured team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who Verstappen had overtaken impressively in the early stages. (BBC Sport)