Lewis Hamilton Edges Closer To WDC Title
Lewis Hamilton edged closer to winning his first World Drivers' Championship title today after beating both Ferraris to take the checkered flag 14.9 seconds ahead of rival Felipe Massa, at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
Hamilton’s victory now means that he is seven points clear of Massa heading into the final Grand Prix of the season in Brazil. As long as he finishes fifth in two weeks time at Sao Paulo, he is guaranteed to be the youngest ever WDC champion.
The winner of the two previous Grand Prix, Fernando Alonso, had a good race and finished fourth, while BMW Sauber pair Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica finished fifth and sixth respectively. Kubica battled back from 11 on the grid to finish sixth, although the result does mean he is now officially out of the running for the WDC title.
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Toyota’s Timo Glock came seventh, while Renault’s Nelson Piquet took the final points position with his eighth place finish, to cap off a successful day for the Renault team.
It was a good day for Renault, and a good day for McLaren in the Drivers’ Championship. But their title hopes in the Constructors’ Championship were dealt a big blow, as the luckless Heikki Kovalainen retired five laps from the end as a brake problem caused his tire puncture, which forced the Finn to retire.
Toyota’s Italian veteran Jarno Trulli also retired, although his retirement was at the beginning of the race following an altercation with Toro Rosso’s Sebastian Bourdais at the opening corner.
Red Bull’s David Coulthard finished 10th in his penultimate Grand Prix before retirement.
It wasn’t the most exciting of Grand Prix races, but it was an important one nonetheless, as Lewis Hamilton boosted his hopes of taking his first ever WDC title after coming painfully close last season, missing out by just a single point.
Felipe Massa came second, and will definitely fancy his chances on his home Grand Prix, the circuit which he claims he is best on. He maybe the best, but if Hamilton finishes fifth, the best will not be enough.
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