2018 Chinese Grand Prix preview

This is already the 15th time we come to China for a Formula One Grand Prix.

The first event back in 2004 ended with Rubens Barrichello taking the checkered flag as the race winner followed by Jenson Button and Kimi Räikkönen. Michael Schumacher had spun off the track in qualifying and didn't set a time. He started from the pit lane and was 12th in the race.

Then in 2005 Renault was the best car so the podium had the two Renaults in front (Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella) and Kimi Räikkönen was best of the rest in third.

The next year in 2006 the same thing - Renault was the best car but what is this? The Renaults were 2nd and 3rd and the winner was Michael Schumacher! Well.. the 2nd best car was Ferrari so it wasn't that strange after all. Let's see if Ferrari can pull off one of those this weekend. I mean they did in the first race in Melbourne so why not repeat it? Make Mercedes a little nervous.

My favorite race in China was probably in 2007. McLaren's Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton had been the favorites for the championship and in this race something else happened. Their luck changed and the black horse (also known as the Iceman) started breathing down their necks. Hamilton made a mistake and then...

 


Kimi won the race! He really needed that victory. Alonso was 2nd in his McLaren, Felipe Massa was third in his Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel was 4th in his Toro Rosso which was his best result at that point and here's his reaction...

 


In 2008 Hamilton didn't make a mistake and won the race followed by the two Ferraris of Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen.

The year after that it was all about Brawn GP and also Red Bull started showing some improvement as well. In this race Sebastian Vettel took the first win ever for Red Bull and Mark Webber was 2nd which made it a perfect day for them. Jenson Button was 3rd after winning the two previous races.

In 2010 Red Bull were very hungry after they barely lost to Brawn in 2009. They wanted to win more than ever but the man who had switched teams from Brawn to McLaren (Jenson Button) won the race! His teammate Lewis Hamilton was 2nd and Nico Rosberg was 3rd.

Then in 2011 it was the other McLaren, Lewis Hamilton, who won the race. This time the Red Bulls were right behind in 2nd and 3rd.

In 2012 Lewis Hamilton's former teammate Nico Rosberg took his maiden victory followed by Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

Lewis Hamilton was on the podium in 2013 as well but in 3rd. Just Fernando Alonso and Kimi Räikkönen were in front of him.

In 2014 the Mercs Lewis and Nico took 1st and 2nd. Fernando Alonso was 3rd which was a miracle if you ask me. The Ferrari F14-T was just awful. 

In 2015 it was the mercs again in the same order. But this time it was Sebastian Vettel 3rd with Ferrari and not Fernando Alonso. Kimi Räikkönen was 4th. This year Ferrari is even stronger and it will make things more interesting. 

In 2016 Nico Rosberg won with Mercedes, Sebastian Vettel was 2nd and Daniil Kvyat was 3rd. This was the race were Vettel said that Kvyat "came like a torpedo from the inside" and didn't like his driving style. After a while he switched seats with Max Verstappen.

Last year Lewis Hamilton won before Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. This year Verstappen hasn't had a very good start but maybe he will do better this weekend.

It seems that the most successful drivers at Shanghai are Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton's teammate, Valtteri Bottas, is also one to keep an eye on. He is hungry and was very disappointed after his 2nd place in Bahrain. He wants more!


And then as usual it's time for the predictions.

Pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

The race:

1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes
3. Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari

Fastest lap: Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari

Surprise: Esteban Ocon, Force India

Join our PREDICTORS LEAGUE now!





POINTS: 1st - 3
2nd - 5
3rd - 10

+ possible bonus points

HOW IT WORKS: the aim of the game is simply predict who comes where in the race (top3). A total of 18 points can be won on a race day. For example if you get winner and and 3rd place right but 2nd wrong you get 13 points.

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