Hamilton wins but no title yet

F1 Grand Prix, GP China, Shanghai International Ciruit

Lewis Hamilton has pulled off a hattrick at China by winning the race from pole position, and additionally setting the fastest lap of the race. Behind him, the Ferrari's suspiciously changed positions 8 laps from the end, allowing Massa to finish 2nd, ahead of Raikkonen and Alonso.

Lewis Hamilton is on pole for this Chinese Grand Prix, he was 0.4s faster than both Ferrari's, even though he is on the harder, prime tyre, while the red cars are on the softer option compound.

The start doesn't change too much in the picking order ahead, apart from the fact that Kovalainen is able to pass Alonso. Not for long however, as Alonso is very challenging towards the McLaren and makes a re-pass on the back straight, quite simply because coming out of turn 13 faster.

Bourdais and Trulli meanwhile hit each other in turn 1. Both continue at the back of the field, but Trulli consequently makes a pitstop. One lap later he is already being lapped, just before abandoning the race in the pit box.

3 laps in the race, Heidfeld has moved up to 6th place, his initial starting position had he not received a penalty for blocking Coulthard during qualifying. Mark Webber is also moving up the field, he is now 11th after starting from 16th due to a 10 place penalty because of an engine change.

Hamilton is meanwhile lining up the fastest laps. Raikkonen follows at a mere 3.5 seconds when crossing line for the 7th time. Massa is another 3 seconds behind while Alonso can follow with ease, even though he is, just like Hamilton, on the harder tyre.

It is Mark Webber who is taking care of the spectators as he made several interesting passes, first to Barrichello and a few laps later on Piquet. It appears though that he is lighter on fuel than his competitors.

Lap 10 marks the first fastest lap for Raikkonen. He's been consistently the fastest in S3, but is now 0.118 faster than Hamilton.

12 laps in the race, Webber is the first to make a stop, completed in 7.6s. He is again fitted with the option tyre. Two laps later, Masa and Alonso are in the pitlane. Both theirs stops complete in 9.1s.

One lap later, Hamilton and Raikkonen are also in the pitlane. Again, both have stops of similar length, taking approximately the same amount of fuel.

Sutil meanwhile ends the race with a possible engine problem.

In lap 26, Kubica is in the pits and surprisingly isn't fitted with new tyres. His front tyres are almost completely without grooves. He will stop again in approximately 16 laps.

Raikkonen is meanwhile suffering some delay with lapping Fisichella. In fact Kimi is so angry with the latter's behaviour that he actually lifts the throttle on the straight to make it clear how he feels about the Force India driver.

Lap 33 marks the only stop for Timo Glock. He is the last man to make a stop and is now fitted with the option tyre to complete the rest of the race.

2 laps later Kovalainen suffers a right front tyre puncture. He consequently limps back to the pits where he is fitted with fresh option tyres in 10.1 seconds.

In lap 38, Massa makes his final stop, now switching to the harder tyre. One lap later it's Hamilton's and Raikkonen's turn. As Kimi is still ahead of Massa after their stops, it will be interesting to see if and how Raikkonen will allow Massa to pass by. With 16 laps to go now the difference between them is down to 2.6 seconds.

The positions are now rather fixed. All eyes are now fixed on Ferrari, where the difference between the two drivers decreased to 1.9 seconds with 11 laps left in the race.

Behind them, Alonso is holding on to fourth, followed by Heidfeld, Kubica, Glock and Piquet.

8 more laps and the avantage of Raikkonen is down to one second. That same lap, it's done on the back straight as Raikkonen was already looking in his mirrors for half the lap.

Kovalainen then abandons in lap 5O by parking his car in the box. He was already down to 15th and had no chance on points anyway. Before his puncture, he was in for a battle with Alonso for 4th place.

Raikkonen appears to suffer either a problem or is holding up the impression to not make Massa passing him too suspicious. Alonso is however only 4.5 seconds behind and is pushing hard, one never knows...

The situation however didn't change anymore, and amilton is now 7 points ahead o Massa, his closest competitor. Alonso did mark his best lap in the final lap of the race.