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Mercedes' risky tire choice for Nico Rosberg has paid off, giving him the checkered flag at this year's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Nico Rosberg has added the Chinese Grand Prix to his third win in as many races this season.
Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's German driver Nico Rosberg celebrates with his trophy after winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 17, 2016. [Photo: Xinhua]
None of the front drivers managed to hold on to their positions in the race-opening chaos.
Second-placed Daniel Ricciardo jumped pole starter Rosberg and surged ahead.
However, Ricciardo only led for two laps before a flat tire forced him into the pit and brought out the safety car.
Apart from that glitch, Rosberg was somewhat untroubled by the chaos behind, and won by a whopping 37 seconds.
Rosberg says while Ricciardo got the jump on him early, tire selection was key for his victory.
"It wasn't so bad, my start. But Daniel got an even better one. But then I was a lot quicker especially with him on the supersofts. When the tires start to degrade i could just fly past him so I was happy with that. I didn't expect it to be that easy in the beginning and after that I was just pushing to put the best gap possible and I'm glad that it worked out so well. "
The Ferrari pair of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebstian Vettel also ran into trouble after Vettel hit Raikkonen as he tried to steer away from Daniil Kvyat.
Vettel and Kvyat ended up finishing second and third.
"He was coming with a lot of speed into that gap and I was very surprised so I had to steer left. At the same time Kimi was coming across and there was no way so we made contact. It's a shame because you don't want the same color touching each other. In the end we were lucky, I could continue, he could continue but surely not the best result for the team so I'm very sorry for that. But it was a very entertaining race, a lot of cars I had to overtake and it was good fun. It was great this afternoon so big thanks to the team"
Kvyat has justified his action on the track, calling it a challenge for the podium, and says he will continue to drive this way in the future.
"Vice versa to Seb I had a really good start. You see the gap, you go for it on the inside and you see one car. Usually it's hard to see both cars. And yeah, it was a risky move of course, I agree with Seb, but this kind of moves, they can bring you a podium. I'm on the podium, he's on the podium, it's fine. I will keep on risking like this and everyone should expect that. "
Kvyat is the first driver outside the Mercedes and Ferrari teams to have made the podium so far this season.
Kimi Raikkonen ended up finishing 5th.
Defending drivers champ Lewis Hamilton managed to finish 7th, despite starting at the back of the grid and losing his front wing during a collision.
Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's German driver Nico Rosberg(R) pours champagne after winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 17, 2016. [Photo: Xinhua]
