Chinese Grand Prix 2019 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Lewis Hamilton claimed his second consecutive victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, overtaking pole-sitter Valtteri Bottas at the start to control the race and extend Mercedes' perfect opening to the season with their third consecutive one-two finish. The British driver made a brilliant getaway from second on the grid, diving down the inside of his teammate into Turn 1 and never looking back. Hamilton's aggressive start and subsequent race management demonstrated his championship instincts, as he built a comfortable gap to establish an early points lead in the title fight.

Bottas had to settle for second place after losing the lead on the opening lap, unable to find a way back past his teammate despite pushing hard throughout the race. Sebastian Vettel secured the final podium position for Ferrari in third, salvaging a decent result after qualifying third on the grid. The German's race was relatively lonely, finishing well behind the dominant Mercedes duo but comfortably ahead of the chasing pack. Max Verstappen finished fourth for Red Bull, demonstrating solid pace but lacking the speed to challenge the top three, while Pierre Gasly set the fastest lap to secure a bonus point.

The result marked Mercedes' 1000th World Championship point as a works team and extended their winning streak to nine consecutive races dating back to the previous season. Ferrari's weekend was again disappointing despite showing improved race pace compared to Bahrain, with Charles Leclerc finishing only fifth after struggling to find the right balance. The Shanghai result established a clear hierarchy at the front, with Mercedes looking ominously dominant and Red Bull-Honda emerging as clear best-of-the-rest ahead of a struggling Ferrari. Hamilton's third victory in China moved him into a commanding championship lead, setting the foundation for what would become his sixth title.