chinese grand prix chinese grand prix formally known formula chinese grand prix formula motor race held april shanghai china race round season marked twelfth time run round formula world championship defending race winner went weekend point lead world championship surprised field taking victory previous round malaysia hamilton took pole position saturday qualifying 41st career row went win race team mate report background surprise victory weeks prior malaysia eyes ferrari able continue good race pace china challenge mercedes win lower track temperatures expected race ferrari cast doubt benefited lower tyre degradation heat malaysia teams taking championship participated race hoping finally able run cars continually stevens failed start malaysia announced supplying teams white banded medium compound tyre prime selection yellow banded soft compound option selection event free practice regulations season practice sessions held hour sessions friday hour session qualifying saturday world champion took clean sweep topped time sheets sessions considerable margin session saw lotus test driver participate place regular finished tenths second team mate pastor drivers track experiences session mercedes drivers ran wide different parts track spun williams turn end session hamilton half second clear team mate friday morning second hamilton continued strong performance second session friday afternoon beating malaysia winner spot finishing half second teams ran dry tyre compounds mercedes appeared dominant harder tyres second ahead rest grid continued struggle brake problems endured malaysia weeks left rear brake started smoke pit stop leading team investigate matter spun turn hitting barrier wing meaning session red session disrupted appearance local man running main straight jumping pit lane stopped security entering ferrari garage apparently stated wanted try car hamilton fastest practice saturday morning suffering seat mercedes cars separated tenths second half second slight fortune finishing fifth sixth respectively problematic session stopped car starting installation lap team mate called pits citing similar problem engine able continue later session experienced smoke cockpit friday saturday apparently caused new plates underneath cars create sparks driving track qualifying qualifying consisted parts minutes length respectively drivers eliminated competing sessions session started local time utc saturday afternoon took possible pole positions season narrowly beating team mate seconds frustrated result team unnecessary pressure telling faster warm lap saying need look ideal pressure like mercedes team use medium tyre qualifying session teams faster soft tyre drivers eliminated failed joined start 16th grid second session saw hamilton post fastest time car lost contact pit lane seat tenths clear team mate suffered engine problems failed second force india lotus pastor contested hamilton beat team mate pole position time set timed lap ran lap tyres order save set race second outing able ahead williams cars team mate struggled handling car track finish sixth grid race race started local time utc managed pass williams cars lap fourth able fend second second lap spun dropped order retirement lap parked force india gravel gearbox failed pit stops ferrari attempted pitting early lap strategy car running pitting early order use fast lap fresh tyres jump ahead rival having overtake track unsuccessful mercedes reacted pitting following lap allowing maintain track position lap retired race started smoke pit stops mercedes drivers manage tyres order cover possible attack ferrari extra set fresh tyres saved qualifying complained radio hamilton driving slow caused charging unable risk driving close hamilton dispersed air car accelerating tyre degradation hamilton asked team pick pace began spread second half race lap leading seconds seconds ferrari earlier attempt pitting early tyres laps teammate closed final stint having emerged final pit stop seconds lap closed gap seconds lap chance battle ferrari teammates extinguished transmission failure stranded start finish straight brought safety car final laps meaning race ended safety car conditions hamilton crossed line win second race season following home 2nd completing podium 3rd pastor race lap running seventh position ahead teammate missed pit entry lost time dropping positions proceeded spin car lap attempted lost time lap collision following long battle position damaging car retiring rear brake failure laps later later deemed button fault incident post race podium interview conducted track field athlete race winner acknowledged fantastic job team expressed disappointment late safety car calling kind anti climax good race like press conference race accused team mate deliberately slowing middle stint race race process hamilton declared asked radio message telling speed wasn controlling race controlling race reacted statement saying interesting hear lewis thinking pace necessarily race hamilton subsequently backed mercedes non executive chairman said sure drives selfish think guys way win way win championship classification qualifying race notes originally finished thirteenth received second time penalty race following collision pastor received second time penalty race failing stay required lap time safety car classified completed race distance championship standings race note positions included sets standings
2015 Chinese Grand Prix