Hamilton bounces back in Shanghai

SHANGHAI—IT was a sunny Sino afternoon as over two dozen cars blaze through the starting grid as Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel quickly lost his pole position. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton’s victory was a precarious but spectacular one as he snatched Vettel on the 52nd lap for the lead as Vettel’s two-pit stop strategy including a 25-lap run on Pirelli’s hard rubber tires failed to pay off.

AN INTERESTING proposal for a young star. Photo by Alvin Uy

When asked if it was the tires that had Vettel gave the lead to Hamilton in the final few laps, he replied: “I think everybody saw that I had nothing to give against him any more. The last two laps fighting him off were quite joyful racing, but in the end there was nothing I could do as with the tires the braking situation changes and traction is missing, so it was only a question of time as to when he would make his attack for the lead,” said Vettel.

Overshadowed

Hamilton’s victory, however, was overshadowed by Mark Webber’s brilliant race with a start from 18th position and ended up in podium to third spot with just 7 seconds behind Hamilton. One by one he overtook Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher and Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, then made a similar fabulous move on Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, Nico Rosberg and McLaren’s Jenson Button in the closing stages of the race.

“We decided to start on the prime tire, which we know is not the most desired, as it doesn’t have the characteristics of the hard tire in terms of duration and things like that. So, we got that out of the way, but it was quite tricky actually, as even with the guys I was with, everyone was using DRS at the same time. I made a mistake in Turn Two on my in-lap and then we came in as there wasn’t much left in the tires and our race started from there. To see P17 on your board after 15 laps you think it might not happen, but suddenly I felt very comfortable with the car. I had a few sets of tires left from qualifying, so that helped—and maybe that’s the way to do it! Miss qualifying and go from there! But, all joking aside, I think the guys have done an incredible job—it’s a back-to-back race and we haven’t had the smoothest run with my car, but I haven’t given up. That drive today was for them and everyone back at the factory. Congratulations to Lewis and it was a good day for us in terms of points for the team,” said Webber.

Action-packed

It was an action-packed race that came with some surprises as well, as Button’s chances for podium went away even if he and Hamilton took the lead from Vettel, Button lost valuable time as he drove into the wrong pit. He charged into the Red Bull pit next door as he was frantically being waved to make the correct stop. “I had a pretty interesting race. I lost out to Sebastian at the first pit stop when I mistakenly pulled into his box. I was looking down at the steering wheel to adjust a switch: when I looked up, I thought I was in my pitbox, but then I saw the Red Bull pitcrew in front of me! But that moment didn’t really change my race at all,” said Button.

Disappointing afternoon

Red Bull’s second team had a disappointing afternoon as team Toro Rosso’s promising race start quickly went away at the start as drivers Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi positions fell back. Alguersuari was the Shanghai race’s only retirement when he lost the right rear wheel after his first pit stop which flew off right after turn 1, while Buemi had to be satisfied with 14th after a deeply disappointing afternoon.

The spectators at Turn 1 saw the rear wheel came off including the this writer along with about a dozen members of the media who was there to watch the race upon invitation from Foton Philippines. Rommel Sytin, President of Foton Philippines, invited several members of RP’s motoring media to the Shanghai Autoshow which was slated a few days after the Shanghai Grand Prix.

“I thought it would be nice to bring our guests from the media to watch the race since we are all here in Shanghai already to see the auto show. The executive team from Foton Philippines will also be on a regional conference with our Foton principals over the weekend in China as well so we thought about watching the Formula One race at the same time. I am glad we reserved seats here at Turn 1 and saw some great F1 action!” said Sytin.

After the Shanghai race, Vettel has 68 points followed by Hamilon with 47 points, with Button on third with 38 points in the driver’s championship. Team Red Bull still leads the constructors’ championship, with 105 points next to McLaren’s 85 points followed by Ferrari with 50 points.