Chinese GP: Nico Rosberg wins third consecutive title

Nico-Roseberg
Nico Roseberg claimed a hat-trick of titles at Chinese GP on Sunday.

Internet Desk: Nico Rosberg of Mercedes won his third Chinese GP on Sunday. It was also his sixth straight title dating back to last season. He becomes just the fourth driver in F1 history to win six straight races, joining Sebastian Vettel, Michael Schumacher and Alberto Ascari.

The Mercedes driver, triumphant at the opening two races in Australia and Bahrain, avoided trouble on a chaotic first lap at the Shanghai International Circuit to romp to the chequered flag ahead of Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat.

Rosberg now has a 36-point lead over Mercedes teammate and reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ standings, but he’s not looking too far ahead yet.

“It’s the longest season in F1 history. We have 21 races, so that’s 18 to go,” he said. “Of course, I’m happy with the way it’s gone and I’m feeling good and the car is there, but I don’t want to say more than that.

“Lewis is not many points behind … and he’s as focused and motivated as ever.”

It was a weekend to forget for Hamilton, a four-time winner at the Shanghai circuit. First, he was assessed a five-place grid penalty for an early gearbox change and then he was forced to start the race in the back row after an engine problem on Saturday prevented him from setting a time in qualifying.

To make matters worse, he also got tangled up in the first-corner accident between Vettel and Raikkonen on Sunday, losing a front wing that brought the first of an extraordinary five pit stops in the race and a seventh-place finish.

“Of course, it’s not a great feeling,” Hamilton said. “But I have the utmost confidence in this team. I know that we will recover from this at some point.”