Lewis Hamilton wins Chinese Grand Prix

Summary

Hamilton defends himself after Rosberg accuses him of deliberately slowing him down
Briton says: "I'm not really quite sure what his problem is"
Hamilton wins, Rosberg 2nd, Vettel 3rd, Raikkonen 4th, Massa 5th
Button and Maldonado crash after battling for position
Bottas 6th, Grosjean 7th, Nasr 8th, Ricciardo 9th, Ericsson 10th
Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Maldonado, Verstappen out

Live Reporting

Jamie Strickland

Podium record for Hamiltonpublished at 09:19 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Image source, Getty Images
Today's result means Lewis Hamilton has now finished on the podium for the 10th consecutive race - the longest run of his career.
His previous best run of nine straight came in the first nine races of his career, at McLaren in 2007.
The Briton has also now passed fellow British world champions Jackie Stewart (1,921) and Jim Clark (1,942) on the all-time laps led list.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Constructor standings after three roundspublished at 09:14 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
1 Mercedes 119
2 Ferrari 79
3 Williams 48
4 Sauber 19
5 Red Bull 13
Image source, Getty Images
6 Toro Rosso 12
7 Force India 7
8 Lotus 6
9 McLaren 0
10 Manor 0
Seventh safety car finish in F1 historypublished at 09:12 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Today's result marks the seventh time an F1 race has finished under a safety car.
The first occasion was at the 1999 Canadian Grand Prix (below).
A lengthy gap followed before the second at Australia 2009, since when we've seen them at Italy 2009, Monaco 2010, Brazil 2012 and Canada 2014.
Image source, Getty Images
Championship standings after three roundspublished at 09:08 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Image source, Reuters
1 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 68
2 Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 55
3 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 51
4 Felipe Massa (Williams) 30
5 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 24
6 Valtteri Bottas (Williams) 18
Get involved - #bbcf1published at 09:04 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Kevin: Great race..... Max Verstappen showing so much promise, must be absolutely gutted with his gearbox. Another 1-2
James Weir: Worth mentioning Lewis Hamilton took the trifecta in China. Pole, fastest lap and Win. Not a bad effort at all.
Laura Tansley: Starting to wonder if McLaren will go all season without a point. Bad for Sauber last year, unthinkable for McLaren
Podium interviewspublished at 09:04 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Sebastian Vettel: "It was a good race. All-in-all we were a bit close on softer tyres to Mercedes. On the harder tyres they were just that bit too quick.
"I'm very happy. It's been three out of three podiums so it's been good. I feel really happy in the team and, hopefully, we'll get a bit closer to challenging Mercedes."
Image source, AFP
Podium interviewspublished at 09:02 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Lewis Hamilton: "First of all a fantastic job by team. It was great to have a smooth weekend.
"It was about controlling the gap for me and saving tyres for when I needed them.
"The safety car wasn't helpful as it was an anti-climax but as long as no-one was hurt then that's the important thing."
Image source, AFP
Podium interviewspublished at 09:02 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Nico Rosberg: "I gave it everything to close the gap but it didn't pay off because my tyres died off.
"We're happy with the gap to Ferrari. We have beaten them here after they won in Malaysia and it was a good important comeback."
Image source, AFP
Ed Moses on the podiumpublished at 08:56 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Double Olympic 400m hurdles champion Ed Moses is doing the podium interviews today.
It's my turn next week, then Judith Chalmers.
Full result 11-20published at 08:55 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Full result - 1-10published at 08:54 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Handshakes all roundpublished at 08:52 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
All very cordial between the top three as they wait to go on to the podium.
Handshakes all round between Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel, who is heard talking about an "anti-climax".
Mercedes team radiopublished at 08:47 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Mercedes engineer: "Great stuff Lewis, stellar weekend."
Lewis Hamilton: "Whoop, yeah man."
Image source, EPA
Final positionspublished at 08:46 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
So, Lewis Hamilton wins ahead of team-mate Nico Rosberg with the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel in third.
The second Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen comes home in fourth ahead of Williams pair Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas.
The Lotus of Romain Grosjean is seventh, ahead of Sauber's Felipe Nasr, the Red Bull of Daniel Ricciardo and the second Sauber of Marcus Ericsson.
Image source, Getty Images
More Shanghai joy for Hamiltonpublished at 08:44 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
That's a fourth Shanghai win for Lewis Hamilton - the 35th of his career overall - and extends his lead at the top of the world championship.
Chequered flagpublished at 08:43 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX.
Image source, EPA
Verstappen outpublished at 08:42 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Max Verstappen's rear axle has locked so probably a gearbox issue. A disappointment but another strong performance from Max."
Image source, Getty Images
Mercedes team radiopublished at 08:42 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Lewis Hamilton: "So we're going to finish behind the safety car are we?"
LAP 55 of 56published at 08:41 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
Race is ending amid high farce.
They cannot get that Toro Rosso shifted from the grid.
The field, led by Hamilton, files slowly past the stricken car of Verstappen and on to the last lap.
Get involved - #bbcf1published at 08:40 British Summer Time 12 April 2015
James Stevenson: Aww! Max Verstappen would have been my driver of the day. He'd got into the probably the best position possible today. Great drive.
Gareth Jones: Max ver-stopping
Srihari: Gutted for #verstappen another brilliant drive. A future world champion in the making
Image source, Getty Images