Hamilton beats Vettel to win 5th Chinese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton secured his first win of the season ahead of Sebastian Vettel in an enthralling Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Mercedes driver was left frustrated by his team’s pit-stop strategy in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, but the constructors’ champions got it right on a Shanghai International Circuit track which dried out after wet conditions at the start.

Hamilton switched to the soft tyres while in front when the safety car went through the pit lane following Sauber reserve driver Antonio Giovinazzi’s early crash and there was no catching the three-time world champion.

The Brit was also brought in for a new set of softs with 20 laps to go and was still in front when he got back on track, with Vettel unable to catch him.

Ferrari’s Vettel won the season-opening race in Melbourne with Hamilton second, but the positions were reversed on this occasion.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen produced a magnificent, typically daring drive to work his way from the back of the grid at the start to finish third ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in a gripping battle.

It was Hamilton’s day, though, as he won in China for a fifth time following the disappointment of missing out after starting on pole in Melbourne.