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Mercedes were on another planet yet again as they dominated, unchallenged, Formula 1’s much-hyped 100th race – the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix – which may also go down as one of the most boring.
Lewis Hamilton made no mistake as he powered from second on the grid into the lead by Turn 1 and was never headed again as his teammate Valtteri Bottas, who started from pole, chased all afternoon to claim second place.
A third one-two for the World Champions who have got a clear march on their rivals very early on in the season. The first time a team has locked out the first three races of an F1 season since Williams accomplished the feat in 1992.
So dominant was Hamilton that he hardly got any screen time on a day in which he was unmatched, he did everything he needed to do and put to bed any dreams of a Bottas reloaded.
On the other side of the coin Ferrari once again shot themselves in the foot with a slew of team orders that compromised, and indeed sacrificed, Charles Leclerc for the benefit of chosen team leader Sebastian Vettel who finished third, while his younger teammate salvaged the shambles of a race they created for him into fifth place when a podium was possible.
And despite being hung out to dry by his team, when he was called upon to hold up Bottas for Vettel’s benefit he flew the Scuderia flag with remarkable loyalty considering circumstances, but in the end the German was unable to capitalise on the opportunity he was given by his team.
Report in process…
