Formula 1
Chinese GP - No miracle cure for Ferrari
Chinese GP
Published: Apr 17, 2011, 5:32 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Chinese GP - No miracle cure for Ferrari
McLaren breaks Red Bull monopoly
Felipe Massa, Scuderia Ferrari
Photo by: xpb.cc
Shanghai, 17 April – Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso finished sixth and seventh respectively in the Chinese Grand Prix. While motor sport is never really predictable, to some extent this less than satisfactory result for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro could have been suggested prior to the start. The places ahead of our Brazilian driver were filled by the two Red Bulls, the two McLarens and, one Mercedes, a team that had shown signs of a big step forward right from free practice earlier in the weekend.
Definitely less predictable was the actual finishing order, because for the first time this year, victory did not go to Sebastian Vettel, but to Lewis Hamilton instead. The championship leader took second place ahead of team-mate Mark Webber, the author of an electrifying drive, making up fifteen places after starting from eighteenth on the grid. With an extended three week break before the next race in Turkey, when the Scuderia hopes to introduce some significant modifications to the 150º Italia, perhaps the Prancing Horse can take some encouragement that today’s result at least proves that Red Bull Racing is not unbeatable.
Tyres again played a vital role with the winner pitting three times, although Fernando did not feel the fact he was on a two stop would have made much difference to his final placing. Felipe on the other hand did concede that an additional tyre change might have allowed him to fight off a few more of those who got past him in the final stages, while adding he felt this was his best race drive for quite some time.
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes
Photo by: xpb.cc
The two McLarens passed Vettel at the start and these three pulled away from Rosberg and the Ferraris led by Felipe who got past his team-mate shortly after the start. The Brazilian was particularly competitive, running as high as second with the run of pit stops, while Fernando seemed to spend the entire race fighting Schumacher: the early battle was the one that did the damage as it came after the Spaniard’s first pit stop and stuck behind the Mercedes, he lost touch with the leaders.
Then towards the end of the race, it was Schumacher, now behind the Ferrari, who was trying to pass, but without success. Running the hard tyre for their final stint, both Felipe and Fernando were experiencing some significant degradation which meant the Brazilian had to see other cars come flying past him, while the Spaniard hung on with plenty of determination to that seventh spot.
Nico Rosberg, Mercedes GP
Photo by: xpb.cc
Rosberg proved just how competitive was the Mercedes this weekend as a lap 12 pit stop put him out in clean air and while the leading trio seemed to be tripping over one another, it allowed him to lead for a large chunk of the 56 laps. Hamilton had other ideas though, passing Button on lap 35 before getting the edge on Rosberg, who would finish fifth and with 12 laps to go, he got by Felipe on the straight.
The McLaren man finally demoted Vettel from his accustomed lead with just four laps remaining, while further back, Webber was on a charge, which would end with a fine third place. It was a thrilling battle for a larger than usual crowd here in Shanghai. Behind the two Ferraris, the final points went to eighth placed Schumacher, followed by Petrov and Kobayashi.
So that’s the first three races, the first trio of “flyaways” done and dusted. Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro is third in the championship, but big improvements are needed and that is exactly what the team is working on for the next round in Istanbul, Turkey at the beginning of May.
Source: Ferrari
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Pirelli Race Report
Next article Hamilton reduces Vettel's title lead with China win
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Felipe Massa
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
On this day: Michael Schumacher wins… and stuns tifosi with F1 retirement
Defendant ordered to pay £250,000 legal fees in Felipe Massa F1 title case
Formula 1
Formula 1
Defendant ordered to pay £250,000 legal fees in Felipe Massa F1 title case
Felipe Massa’s F1 2008 lawsuit will proceed to trial
Formula 1
Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
Felipe Massa’s F1 2008 lawsuit will proceed to trial
More from
Ferrari
Charles Leclerc blames Mexico GP clash on track layout - Fred Vasseur disagrees
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
4 h
Charles Leclerc blames Mexico GP clash on track layout - Fred Vasseur disagrees
Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
23 h
Lewis Hamilton slams Charles Leclerc for "do or die" attitude after Mexico GP clash
Latest news
How Red Bull's crucial strategy call helped Max Verstappen win the "Maxico Grand Prix"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
10 min
How Red Bull's crucial strategy call helped Max Verstappen win the "Maxico Grand Prix"
Toyota explains call to run Celica and Yaris models in WRC 2027
WRC
WRC WRC 1 h
Toyota explains call to run Celica and Yaris models in WRC 2027
Isack Hadjar blames himself for George Russell clash that “ruined” his Mexico GP
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
1 h
Isack Hadjar blames himself for George Russell clash that “ruined” his Mexico GP
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe