(Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team)
Mercedes AMG PETRONAS F1 Team’s Lewis Hamilton completed a
clean sweep for the Silver Arrows at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday taking
victory in a dramatic end to the Grand Prix which saw the race finish under the
Safety Car.
Hamilton was fastest in Free Practice 1 and 2 on Friday,
fastest in Free Practice 3 and qualifying yesterday and led home team mate Nico
Rosberg to take his second race win of the 2015 season and in doing so ensured
that he extends his lead in the championship over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel to
13 points.
The race was not all plain sailing for the Mercedes AMG
PETRONAS F1 Team however as Nico Rosberg go on the radio early accusing
Hamilton of deliberately backing him into Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel. The argument
spilled into the post-race press conference where Rosberg stated that Hamilton
had ruined his race.
Hamilton was unmoved by the accusation saying that over the
course of the race he was faster than Rosberg. Speaking following the race the
double world champion said:
‘I'm really happy. It was a great race and
really positive to have a clean weekend throughout every session. The team did
a great job. Going into today we expected it to be close with Ferrari as they
had been good on the tyres on their long runs. The goal was to run my own race
and manage the tyres as best I could; I was driving as hard as I could within
the constraints of the tyres and just trying to stretch out the Option stints
for as long as possible. I never really had a threat from Nico but I didn't do
anything intentionally to slow him up. Before the second stops I was able to
put in a few fast laps to build the gap which I really enjoyed. Then, it was a
case of managing the life of the Prime tyre to the finish. Overall, I’ve just
got to say thank you to the team for a smooth weekend. We dialled the car in
where I wanted and that helped me deliver out there today. It’s a great feeling
to win again in China in front of all these amazing fans. Their support has
been incredible all weekend, so ‘xiexie’ to all of them! ‘
The first three Grand Prix have seen the same three driver’s
finish on the podium but in different orders and of the three Nico Rosberg is
yet to win a Grand Prix this season. The German will be hoping to change that
next time out in Bahrain next weekend.
Although he was frustrated to have finished behind Hamilton
he took comfort in the fact that Mercedes were able to beat Scuderia Ferrari.
Speaking following the race he commented:
‘It was great to beat the Ferrari and the team
has done a great job since Malaysia. But I’m also a bit frustrated today, as I
saw how much of a difference four hundredths of a second to Lewis in Qualifying
can make. Lewis managed his tyres a lot in the middle stint and that put me at
risk with Vettel right behind. But the team adapted to box me earlier for the second
stop and stay ahead of the Ferrari after he had pitted to try and jump ahead
through the undercut on new tyres. So that worked out – but I then had a long
final stint to do and the tyres were beginning to give up in the final laps.
I’m sure we will sit down and discuss it all now. But in general it’s up to me
to change the situation. I just need to make a better job on Saturday.’
The Brackley based outfit head to Bahrain following the
second 1-2 finish of the season and already have a forty point advantage over
main rivals Ferrari who currently occupy second place. Speaking following the
race, Mercedes Executive Director (Business) Toto Wolff stated:
‘That was a great victory for the team but not
an easy one; it was as challenging a race as we anticipated this morning. At
the start of the race, we had the pace to pull a little gap to the Ferraris,
but they were really strong today. We had to keep the Option tyres alive long
enough and asked the guys to drive in an intelligent way. We chose to stick
with the Option for the second stint and had to once again look after them to
make them last far enough. We had some good communication during that part of
the race, telling each driver what they needed to do to keep the one-two finish
safe, and then we switched the pit-stop order for the final stops to protect
Nico against Vettel by stopping him before Lewis. But it’s clear from today’s
race what a big jump Ferrari has made over the winter. They were competitive in
Malaysia, very strong here in the opening stint and they will be quick in
Bahrain, too. Tonight, though, we can take a moment to appreciate a job well
done – then get our heads down and start working for Bahrain next weekend.’
Mercedes Executive Director (Technical) Paddy Lowe concluded
by saying:
‘A fantastic result for the team to get
another one-two finish. Malaysia was not only a good reminder of how difficult
it is to win a Grand Prix, but also how much we don’t like not winning! This
weekend we went out there to improve on our performance and everybody did a
great job to achieve that. Ferrari pushed us very hard indeed – especially in
the first stint. We were pleasantly surprised to see that Sebastian (Vettel)
was the first to fall away and pit on the first set of option tyres. We were
then able to shadow his strategy and bring home the one-two. It certainly
wasn’t comfortable and the pressure was very much on both the drivers and the
crew to nail the necessary laps and pit stops respectively. It was a great
group performance and a well-earned team result.’
© Ben Johnston 2015
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