2008 Chinese Grand Prix

{{good article}} {{Infobox Grand Prix race report |Type = F1 |Previous_round = 2008 Japanese Grand Prix |Next_round = 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix |Country = China |Grand Prix = Chinese |Date = 19 October |Year = 2008 |Image = Shanghai International Racing Circuit track map.svg |Caption = |Race_No = 17 |Season_No = 18 |Official name = 2008 Formula 1 Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix<ref name="f1.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/china_803/circuit_diagram.html |title=2008 Formula 1 Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One Management |date=2008-10-19 |access-date=2009-02-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205144452/http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/china_803/circuit_diagram.html |archive-date=December 5, 2008 }}</ref> |Location = [[Shanghai International Circuit]] [[Shanghai]], [[People's Republic of China]] |Course = Permanent Racing Facility |Course_mi = 3.387<ref name="fiafacts">{{cite web |url = http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/china/Pages/circuit.aspx |title = Grand Prix of China |publisher = Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date = 2008-10-19 |access-date = 2009-02-25 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090214233751/http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/china/Pages/circuit.aspx |archive-date = 14 February 2009 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all }}</ref> |Course_km = 5.451 |Distance_laps = 56<ref name="fiafacts"/> |Distance_mi = 189.559<ref name="fiafacts"/> |Distance_km = 305.066 |Weather = Dry |Pole_Driver = [[Lewis Hamilton]] |Pole_Team = [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]] |Pole_Time = 1:36.303 |Pole_Country = United Kingdom |Fast_Driver = [[Lewis Hamilton]] |Fast_Team = [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]] |Fast_Time = 1:36.325 |Fast_Lap = 13 |Fast_Country = United Kingdom |First_Driver = [[Lewis Hamilton]] |First_Team = [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]] |First_Country = United Kingdom |Second_Driver = [[Felipe Massa]] |Second_Team = [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |Second_Country= Brazil |Third_Driver = [[Kimi Räikkönen]] |Third_Team = [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |Third_Country = Finland |Lapchart = {{F1Laps2008|CHN}} }} The '''2008 Chinese Grand Prix''' (officially the '''2008 Formula 1 Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix''') was a [[Formula One]] motor race held on 19 October 2008 at the [[Shanghai International Circuit]]. It was the 17th and penultimate race of the [[2008 Formula One World Championship]]. [[Lewis Hamilton]] for the [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]] team won the 56-lap race from [[pole position]]. [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] driver [[Felipe Massa]] finished second, and [[Kimi Räikkönen]] was third in the other Ferrari.

Hamilton, the eventual [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|Drivers' Champion]], led the Championship going into the race, and started from [[pole position]] alongside Räikkönen. Second in the Drivers' Championship, Massa began from third, next to [[Fernando Alonso]] of [[Renault F1|Renault]]. The first three drivers retained their positions into the first corner, but Alonso was passed by Hamilton's McLaren teammate [[Heikki Kovalainen]]. Alonso, however, was able to regain the place midway through the first lap. Over the course of the race, Hamilton extended a considerable lead over the two Ferraris. Massa passed Räikkönen with seven laps remaining, to improve his chances of surpassing Hamilton's [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|points tally]] at [[2008 Brazilian Grand Prix|the final race in Brazil]].

The result extended Ferrari's lead over McLaren in the [[List of Formula One World Constructors' Champions|Constructors' Championship]] from seven to 11 points. Third-placed in the Drivers' Championship, [[Robert Kubica]]'s sixth place at the Grand Prix eliminated his hopes of winning the Championship, and reduced his lead over fourth-placed Räikkönen to six points. [[Nelson Piquet Jr.]] scored his last world championship points at this race.

==Background==

The Grand Prix was contested by 20 drivers, in ten teams of two.<ref name="classification">{{cite web|url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/china/Pages/race_classification.aspx |title=Race Classification |publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date=2008-10-19 |access-date=2009-02-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604000214/http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/china/Pages/race_classification.aspx |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref> The teams, also known as "[[Formula One#Constructors|constructors]]", were [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]], [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]], [[Renault F1|Renault]], [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]], [[Force India]], [[BMW Sauber]], [[Toyota F1|Toyota]], [[Red Bull Racing]], [[WilliamsF1|Williams]] and [[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]].<ref name="classification"/> As is normal for a Formula One race, [[Bridgestone]] brought two different tyre compounds to the race; the softer of the two marked by a single white stripe down one of the grooves.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71617 |title=Tyre strategies - Chinese GP |work= autosport.com |publisher= Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-19 |access-date=2009-02-11}}</ref>

Prior to the race, McLaren driver [[Lewis Hamilton]] led the [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|Drivers' Championship]] with 84 [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|points]], and Ferrari driver [[Felipe Massa]] was second with 79 points. Behind them in the Drivers' Championship, [[Robert Kubica]] was third with 72 points in a BMW Sauber, and Massa's Ferrari teammate [[Kimi Räikkönen]] was fourth with 63 points. Kubica's teammate [[Nick Heidfeld]] was fifth with 56 points.<ref name="pointsFIA">{{cite book|last=Jones|first=Bruce|title=The Official ITV Sport Guide: Grand Prix 2009|chapter=Final Results 2008|url=https://archive.org/details/grandprix2009off0000jone/|year=2009|publisher=[[Welbeck Publishing Group|Carlton Books]]|location=London, England|pages=116–117|isbn=978-1-84732-262-3|via=Internet Archive|url-access=registration}}</ref> In the [[List of Formula One World Constructors' Champions|Constructors' Championship]], Ferrari were leading with 142 points, seven points ahead of their rivals McLaren–Mercedes, whom they had overtaken at the previous race. BMW Sauber were third with 128 points. In the battle for fourth place, Renault had 66 points, now 16 points ahead of Toyota.<ref name="pointsFIA"/>

At the [[2008 Japanese Grand Prix|previous race in Japan]], the gap between Hamilton and Massa had closed by two points. Hamilton had started from [[pole position]] ahead of Räikkönen, but had a poor start.<ref name="japmclr">{{cite web |url= http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71363 |title= Japan Sunday quotes: McLaren |work= autosport.com |publisher= Haymarket Publishing |date= 2008-10-12 |access-date= 2009-02-06}}</ref> At the first corner he braked late, and forced Räikkönen wide.<ref name="japgpreport">{{cite web |url = http://www.grandprix.com/race/r801racereport.html |title = Japanese GP - Sunday - Race Report: The mystery of the Renault diamond |work = GrandPrix.com |publisher = Inside F1, Inc. |date = 2008-10-12 |access-date = 2009-02-06 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090209172347/http://grandprix.com/race/r801racereport.html |archive-date = 9 February 2009 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all }}</ref> He was later given a penalty, which dropped him down the field from where he was unable to recover to a [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|points scoring position]].<ref name="japgpreport"/> Massa also received a penalty for a collision with Hamilton on the second lap, but was able to finish in seventh position.<ref name="japgpreport"/> The British press described Hamilton's move as "impetuosity and untamed aggression", saying that the McLaren driver would have to adopt a more conservative race strategy in China.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article4931826.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202092200/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article4931826.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 2, 2008 |title=Choke is on again as Lewis Hamilton's ambitions dented by debacle |author=Edward Gorman |work=Times Online |publisher=News International |date=2008-10-13 |access-date=2009-02-06 | location=London}}</ref> For his part, Hamilton said that he would be taking no risks:

{{blockquote|We will approach it the same as always. We won't be taking risks, but we will be attacking as much as we can to win the race. If I'm in a position where we are looking to gain good points, and it's an unnecessary risk to make a manoeuvre, then I won't be doing that. It's always important to be fast, but it's not necessarily the fastest car that wins. Being fast is great for positioning, and maybe getting out in front, and then afterwards trying to stay calm.<ref name="norisklh">{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71487 |title=Hamilton says he will take no risks |author=Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde |work= autosport.com |publisher= Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-17 |access-date=2009-02-06}}</ref>}}

With ten points on offer for the winner of the Grand Prix, it was possible that Hamilton would clinch the Championship in Shanghai.<ref name="norisklh"/> Massa remained confident, saying that the race was just like any other: "You have a pressure but it is a different pressure, but you have always the pressure on your side."<ref name="pressurefm">{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71430 |title=Massa not feeling extra pressure |author=Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde |work= autosport.com |publisher= Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-16 |access-date=2009-02-06}}</ref>

Renault driver and two-time Championship winner [[Fernando Alonso]] created controversy when he said "if I can help, I will help Massa."<ref name="oohalonso">{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71379 |title=Alonso says he will help Massa if possible |author=Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde |work= autosport.com |publisher= Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-13 |access-date=2009-02-06}}</ref> Alonso's departure from McLaren after driving for the British team in 2007 had been acrimonious, and Alonso's dislike for the rookie Hamilton was well documented.<ref name="aahalonso">{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71424 |title=Alonso happy to help Hamilton rivals |author=Jonathan Noble and Simon Strang |work= autosport.com |publisher= Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-16 |access-date=2009-02-06}}</ref> Talking about Hamilton's penalty in Japan, Alonso said "I don't know what he did, but it's good he's punished anyway."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2008/oct/13/hamilton-alonso-massa-title |title=Alonso vows to help Massa beat Hamilton to world title |author=Gemma Briggs and agencies |work=guardian.co.uk |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |date=2008-10-13 |access-date=2009-02-06}}</ref> Hamilton refused to be drawn into the controversy: "I don't particularly have an opinion on it," he said, adding that he was interested only in his own race.<ref name="noworrieslh">{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71425 |title=Hamilton shrugs off Alonso's comments |author=Jonathan Noble and Simon Strang |work= autosport.com |publisher= Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-16 |access-date=2009-02-06}}</ref> {{Clear}}

Three practice sessions were held before the Sunday race—two on Friday, and a third on Saturday. The Friday morning and afternoon sessions each lasted 90 minutes. The third session was held on Saturday morning and lasted an hour.<ref name="sporting">{{cite web |url=http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/475632E46002BEDAC125744F004312F4/$FILE/F1.SPORTING.REGULATIONS.19-05-2008.pdf |title=2008 Formula One Sporting Regulations |publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date=2008-05-19 |access-date=2008-11-14}}</ref> All three sessions were held on a dry track. Hamilton was fastest in the first session with a time of 1:35.630, 0.39 of a second ahead of Massa, who was next quickest.<ref name="prac1">{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71448 |title=Hamilton leads first session in China |author=Matt Beer |work= autosport.com |publisher= Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-17 |access-date=2008-12-19}}</ref> Räikkönen, [[Heikki Kovalainen]] of McLaren, Kubica, Alonso and Heidfeld rounded out the top seven. [[Sébastien Bourdais]] of Toro Rosso was eighth, having been quickest early in the session.<ref name="prac1"/> Renault driver [[Nelson Piquet Jr.|Nelson Piquet]] drove into the gravel beside the pit-lane entry, though managed to rejoin.<ref name="prac1"/> Hamilton was again quickest in the second session; his early time of 1:35.750 was the fastest of the afternoon.<ref name="prac2">{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71455 |title=Hamilton also tops second practice |author=Matt Beer |work= autosport.com |publisher= Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-17 |access-date=2008-12-19}}</ref> The Renaults were next quickest, ahead of [[Jarno Trulli]] of Toyota, Red Bull driver [[Mark Webber (racing driver)|Mark Webber]], Massa, Bourdais and Räikkönen. Bourdais spun off at turn two late in the session and beached his car in the gravel.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7675267.stm |title=Chinese Grand Prix: Friday |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=2008-10-18 |access-date=2008-12-19}}</ref> Heidfeld was fastest in the final session with a time of 1:36.061, ahead of Hamilton, Kubica and Kovalainen.<ref name="prac3">{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71508 |title=Heidfeld fastest in final China practice |author=Matt Beer |work= autosport.com |publisher= Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-18 |access-date=2008-12-19}}</ref> Massa, Räikkönen and Alonso lacked pace, and failed to make the top ten. Webber stopped late in the session when his engine failed on the back straight, requiring an engine change before qualifying.<ref name="prac3"/> This would give him a ten-place [[Formula One regulations#Penalties|penalty]] on the [[List of motorsport terminology#G|grid]].<ref name="bbcqual">{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7677490.stm |title=Chinese Grand Prix: Qualifying |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=2008-10-18 |access-date=2008-12-19}}</ref>

==Qualifying==

The qualifying session on Saturday afternoon was split into three parts. The first part ran for 20 minutes, and cars that finished the session 16th or lower were eliminated from qualifying. The second part of qualifying lasted 15 minutes and eliminated cars that finished in positions 11 to 15. The final part of qualifying determined the positions from first to tenth, and decided [[pole position]]. Cars which failed to make the final session could refuel before the race, so ran lighter in those sessions. Cars which competed in the final session of qualifying were not allowed to refuel before the race, and as such carried more fuel than in the previous sessions.<ref name="sporting"/>

{{quote box|quote=Finally, things seemed to go right for me in qualifying. It's too late for the title, but we definitely learnt a lesson which will be useful for next year. All weekend we've struggled to find the right settings on the car, but then all the work we put in finally came good in [the third session], when the car was pretty good. Certainly, even putting aside what the choices have been in terms of fuel loads, today it would have been difficult to beat the McLaren, but I am happy with the overall result for the team.|source=[[Kimi Räikkönen]], following the third qualifying session.<ref name="qualquotes">{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/10/8557.html |title=Qualifying - selected driver quotes |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One Management |date=2008-10-18 |access-date=2008-12-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081021080812/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/10/8557.html |archive-date=October 21, 2008 }}</ref>|width=30%|align=left}}

Hamilton clinched his seventh [[pole position]] of the season with a time of 1:36.303.<ref name="qualresults">{{cite web |url = http://www.grandprix.com/race/r802q1results.html |title = Chinese GP - Saturday - Qualifying Session: Results |work = GrandPrix.com |publisher = Inside F1, Inc. |date = 2008-09-18 |access-date = 2008-12-19 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081114081028/http://www.grandprix.com/race/r802q1results.html |archive-date = 2008-11-14 |url-status = dead }}</ref> He was joined on the front row of the grid by Räikkönen, who qualified 0.342 seconds behind Hamilton's time.<ref name="chiqual">{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71513 |title=Hamilton grabs crucial pole in China |author=Matt Beer |work=autosport.com |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-18 |access-date=2008-12-19}}</ref> Massa took third place, needing a good result to retain the possibility of a Championship victory. Alonso qualified in fourth ahead of Kovalainen, who took fifth after struggling for tyre grip during the final session.<ref name="qualquotes"/><ref name="qualgp">{{cite web |url = http://www.grandprix.com/race/r802q1report.html |title = Red flags not flying in Shanghai |work = GrandPrix.com |publisher = Inside F1, Inc. |date = 2008-09-18 |access-date = 2008-12-19 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081114142919/http://www.grandprix.com/race/r802q1report.html |archive-date = 2008-11-14 |url-status = dead }}</ref> Webber was sixth fastest in the final session, but was demoted to 16th on the grid as a result of his penalty.<ref name="bbcqual"/> Heidfeld originally qualified sixth, but was penalised three positions for impeding Red Bull driver [[David Coulthard]] in the first session.<ref name="bbcqual"/> As a result, Toro Rosso driver [[Sebastian Vettel]] inherited sixth position, ahead of Trulli and Bourdais.<ref name="qualresults"/> Piquet took tenth position. Kubica's eleventh placing was his worst qualifying result to that point in the season, struggling with his car's [[Racing setup|set-up]] throughout his two sessions.<ref name="bbcqual"/> [[Rubens Barrichello]] of Honda took 13th behind [[Timo Glock]] of Toyota, to reach the top 15 for the first time in ten races.<ref name="chiqual"/> Williams driver [[Nico Rosberg]] took 14th on the grid.<ref name="qualresults"/> Coulthard failed to move beyond the first session; the Red Bull driver qualified in 15th and blamed Heidfeld for his poor performance.<ref name="bbcqual"/> [[Kazuki Nakajima]] of Williams, [[Jenson Button]] of Honda and the Force Indias of [[Adrian Sutil]] and [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] would line up on the back two rows of the grid.<ref name="qualresults"/> {{Clear}}

===Qualifying classification=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%" !Pos !No !Driver !Constructor !Part 1 !Part 2 !Part 3 !Grid |- !1 |22 |{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Lewis Hamilton]] |[[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]] |'''1:35.566''' |'''1:34.947''' |'''1:36.303''' |1 |- !2 |1 |{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Kimi Räikkönen]] |[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:35.983 |1:35.355 |1:36.645 |2 |- !3 |2 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Felipe Massa]] |[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:35.971 |1:35.135 |1:36.889 |3 |- !4 |5 |{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Fernando Alonso]] |[[Renault F1|Renault]] |1:35.769 |1:35.461 |1:36.927 |4 |- !5 |23 |{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Heikki Kovalainen]] |[[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]] |1:35.623 |1:35.216 |1:36.930 |5 |- !6 |10 |{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Mark Webber (racing driver)|Mark Webber]] |[[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault F1|Renault]] |1:36.238 |1:35.686 |1:37.083 |16{{ref|1|1}} |- !7 |3 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Nick Heidfeld]] |[[BMW Sauber]] |1:36.224 |1:35.403 |1:37.201 |9{{ref|2|2}} |- !8 |15 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Sebastian Vettel]] |[[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:35.752 |1:35.386 |1:37.685 |6 |- !9 |11 |{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Jarno Trulli]] |[[Toyota F1|Toyota]] |1:36.104 |1:35.715 |1:37.934 |7 |- !10 |14 |{{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Bourdais]] |[[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:36.239 |1:35.478 |1:38.885 |8 |- !11 |6 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Nelson Piquet Jr.]] |[[Renault F1|Renault]] |1:36.029 |1:35.722 | |10 |- !12 |4 |{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Robert Kubica]] |[[BMW Sauber]] |1:36.503 |1:35.814 | |11 |- !13 |12 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Timo Glock]] |[[Toyota F1|Toyota]] |1:36.210 |1:35.937 | |12 |- !14 |17 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Rubens Barrichello]] |[[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] |1:36.640 |1:36.079 | |13 |- !15 |7 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Nico Rosberg]] |[[WilliamsF1|Williams]]-[[Toyota F1|Toyota]] |1:36.434 |1:36.210 | |14 |- !16 |9 |{{flagicon|UK}} [[David Coulthard]] |[[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault F1|Renault]] |1:36.731 | | |15 |- !17 |8 |{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Kazuki Nakajima]] |[[WilliamsF1|Williams]]-[[Toyota F1|Toyota]] |1:36.863 | | |17 |- !18 |16 |{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Jenson Button]] |[[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] |1:37.053 | | |18 |- !19 |20 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Adrian Sutil]] |[[Force India]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:37.730 | | |19 |- !20 |21 |{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] |[[Force India]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:37.739 | | |20 |- !colspan="8"|{{center|Source:<ref name="chiqual"/>}} |}

*{{note|1|1}} – Mark Webber dropped 10 places on the grid after an unscheduled engine change. *{{note|2|2}} – Nick Heidfeld penalised three grid positions for impeding David Coulthard during first qualifying session.

==Race== [[File:Kimi Raikkonen 2008 China.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kimi Räikkönen]] started from second on the [[List of motorsport terminology#G|grid]]]] The conditions on the grid were dry before the race. The [[air temperature]] was {{convert|27|°C|°F}} and the track temperature was {{convert|30|°C|°F}};<ref name="commautosport">{{cite web |url=http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/59 |title=As it happened: Raceday in Shanghai |author=Geoff Creighton and Emlyn Hughes |work=autosport.com |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-19 |access-date=2008-12-20}}</ref> weather forecasts suggested a small possibility of rain.<ref name="weatherf1.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/10/8536.html |title=Sunday weather update - showers possible for race |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One Management |date=2008-10-19 |access-date=2008-12-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081019085427/http://formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/10/8536.html |archive-date=October 19, 2008 }}</ref> Hamilton and Alonso began the race on harder compound tyre; both Ferraris opted for the softer compound.<ref name="commautosport"/> Hamilton accelerated faster than the Ferraris off the line, and retained his lead into the first corner.<ref name="fiaracefacts">{{cite web |url = http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressinformation/f1pressinfo/china/Pages/race_facts.aspx |title = Race Facts |publisher = Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date = 2008-10-19 |access-date = 2008-12-20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081117112246/http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressinformation/f1pressinfo/china/Pages/race_facts.aspx |archive-date = 17 November 2008 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all }}</ref> Kovalainen overtook Alonso to take fourth in the opening corners.<ref name="commbbc">{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7676048.stm |title=Chinese Grand Prix: As it happened |author=Sarah Holt |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=2008-10-19 |access-date=2008-12-07| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081022141358/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7676048.stm| archive-date= 22 October 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> However, Alonso pushed Kovalainen hard through the middle sector of the lap, and passed him at the turn 14 [[Hairpin turn|hairpin]] after [[Drafting (aerodynamics)|drafting]] the McLaren along the back straight.<ref name="commautosport"/> At the end of the first lap, Hamilton led from Räikkönen, Massa, Alonso and Kovalainen.<ref name="fiaracefacts"/> Heidfeld was able to move from ninth on the grid to take sixth, after Bourdais drove into the back of Trulli at the first corner.<ref name="f1byteam">{{cite web|url=http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/10/8569.html |title=China race analysis - Hamilton answers his critics |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One Management |date=2008-10-20 |access-date=2009-02-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023084754/http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/10/8569.html |archive-date=October 23, 2008 }}</ref> Bourdais dropped back to 18th; Trulli [[pit stop|pitted]] at the next opportunity as a result of the damage and retired after the second lap.<ref name="fiaracefacts"/>

[[File:Robert Kubica 2008 China.jpg|thumb|left|[[Robert Kubica]] on his way to his sixth placing]]

Webber was able to climb from 16th on the grid to take 12th behind Glock, and passed the Toyota on the second lap.<ref name="fiaracefacts"/> Kubica, further up the field, improved on his grid position, moving from 11th to take eighth behind Vettel.<ref name="commbbc"/> However, Hamilton was the quickest on track, as he set new [[fastest lap]]s on laps three, six and eight, to extend his lead over Räikkönen to more than four seconds.<ref name="fiaracefacts"/> This trend continued until lap 10 when Räikkönen fought back and closed the gap.<ref name="fiaracefacts"/> However, Hamilton extended his lead when he set the fastest lap of the race, a 1:36.325 on lap 13.<ref name="classification"/> In the other McLaren, Kovalainen was struggling, running two seconds a lap slower than Hamilton, and dropping back from Alonso to Heidfeld.<ref name="commautosport"/>

The Red Bull of Mark Webber was the first to pit, on lap 12.<ref name="pitsummary">{{cite web |url= http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2008/803/6580/pit_stop_summary.html |title= China Pit Stop Summary |work= Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One Management |date= 2008-10-19 |access-date= 2009-02-07| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081231220356/http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2008/803/6580/pit_stop_summary.html| archive-date= 31 December 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> Webber had passed Barrichello and Piquet in separate manoeuvres to take ninth, but his pit stop dropped him back down to 18th position.<ref name="commautosport"/> Massa and Alonso came in to pit on lap 14, from third and fourth.<ref name="pitsummary"/> Kovalainen took the lead of the Grand Prix when Hamilton and Räikkönen paused their battle to take harder tyres and fuel on lap 15.<ref name="commautosport"/> By the time Kovalainen and Heidfeld had pitted on laps 17 and 18,<ref name="pitsummary"/> Hamilton had established a commanding lead: 6.9 seconds over Räikkönen and 14.1 seconds over Massa.<ref name="commbbc"/> Räikkönen began to pull back Hamilton's lead over the next ten laps, before losing 1.4 seconds on lap 30.<ref name="fiaracefacts"/>

[[File:Alonso Renault Pitstop Chinese GP 2008.jpg|thumb|right|[[Fernando Alonso]] during his first [[pit stop]]]]

At the back of the race, Bourdais began a slow climb back up the field. The Toro Rosso driver passed Sutil (who later spun out and retired with a gearbox problem),<ref name="f1byteam"/> Nakajima and Coulthard, to sit in 15th by lap 30.<ref name="fialapchart">{{cite web|url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/china/Pages/lap_chart.aspx |title=Lap Chart |publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date=2008-10-19 |access-date=2009-02-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604000244/http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/china/Pages/lap_chart.aspx |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref> Rosberg fought Glock for 12th, until he passed the Toyota at the turn 14 hairpin on lap 12.<ref name="commautosport"/> Rosberg's pit stop relegated him to 18th, dropping six places.<ref name="fialapchart"/> Kubica pitted late, on lap 25, dropping from third to ninth, one position outside of the points.<ref name="fialapchart"/>

[[File:Lewis Hamilton 2008 China.jpg|thumb|left|[[Lewis Hamilton]] took the win from [[pole position]]]]

Kovalainen suffered a [[Wiktionary:Puncture|puncture]] on lap 35.<ref name="fiaracefacts"/> The McLaren limped around the track back to the pit lane on the disintegrating tyre, rejoining in 17th on a replacement.<ref name="commbbc"/><ref name="fialapchart"/> Alonso, Massa, Hamilton and Räikkönen all pitted for the final time over laps 36 to 38.<ref name="pitsummary"/> Coming out of the second round of pit stops, Hamilton led Räikkönen by 13 seconds, Räikkönen more than 2.5 seconds ahead of Massa.<ref name="fiaracefacts"/> The gap between the Ferraris began to close, and Massa eased past Räikkönen on the back straight on lap 49, to take second place on the track.<ref name="commbbc"/> Meanwhile, Kovalainen parked his car in the McLaren garage and retired from the race, his team not taking any chances with a problem which had developed with the engine's [[hydraulics]].<ref name="gpreport">{{cite web |url = http://www.grandprix.com/race/r802racereport.html |title = Chinese GP - Sunday - Race Report: Lewis's Chinese takeaway |work = GrandPrix.com |publisher = Inside F1, Inc. |date = 2008-10-19 |access-date = 2009-02-07 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090129093427/http://www.grandprix.com/race/r802racereport.html |archive-date = 2009-01-29 |url-status = dead }}</ref>

Hamilton took his fifth win of the season when he crossed the line at the end of the 56th lap, almost 15 seconds ahead of the second-placed Massa.<ref name="classification"/> Räikkönen took third ahead of Alonso. Heidfeld managed to jump from ninth on the grid to finish in fifth place, just ahead of his teammate Kubica, who climbed from eleventh on the grid.<ref name="classification"/> A one-stop pit strategy worked well for Glock as he finished seventh; Piquet took eighth.<ref name="gpreport"/> Vettel, Coulthard, Barrichello and Nakajima took the next four places; Bourdais recovered from his early contact with Trulli to take 13th.<ref name="classification"/> Webber's initial success with a two-stop strategy faded as he finished 14th. Rosberg took 15th, ahead of Button and Fisichella.<ref name="classification"/> Trulli, Sutil and Kovalainen were the three retirements from the 56 lap race.<ref name="classification"/>

===Post-race=== {{quote box|quote=Well, it was quite straightforward actually. I managed to get everything right on the formation lap. I was perfectly in my position and it was a great start, it was really probably one of the best we've had. I felt it was one of the best we've had this year which was needed. I got into turn one quite clear, I took it easy the first few corners then I started to bridge the gap. Fortunately we were just very, very consistent and I think every lap was faster and very, very few errors throughout the whole run, therefore I was able to create a gap and from there it was pretty smooth sailing. |source=[[Lewis Hamilton]], speaking after the race.<ref name="pressconference">{{cite web |url = http://www.grandprix.com/race/r802sunpc.html |title = Chinese GP - Sunday - Press Conference |work = GrandPrix.com |publisher = Inside F1, Inc |date = 2008-10-19 |access-date = 2009-02-07 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081114151146/http://www.grandprix.com/race/r802sunpc.html |archive-date = 2008-11-14 |url-status = dead }}</ref>|width=29%|align=right}}

The top three finishers appeared on the [[Podium#Usage in motorsport|podium]] and in the subsequent [[press conference]], where Hamilton praised his team: "they have done a phenomenal job and the car is really a dream to drive."<ref name="pressconference"/> Looking ahead to the [[2008 Brazilian Grand Prix|next race in Brazil]], where Hamilton would enter with a seven-point advantage, the Championship leader seemed confident: "It will be tough and [Ferrari] will be pushing us hard but hopefully as a team we can pull through."<ref name="pressconference"/> Massa admitted that McLaren had the stronger car on the day:

{{blockquote|For us we were completely driving on the limit trying to reduce the gap but it was not possible. I was trying to push as Kimi was trying to push to get closer to Lewis but it was not possible. So today unfortunately Lewis had the better car for the whole weekend.<ref name="pressconference"/>}}

Asked about his pass on Räikkönen in the closing laps, Massa said that "it was the best time for me in the race, I was quite strong and then I caught him and I passed him."<ref name="pressconference"/> Since the [[2002 Austrian Grand Prix]], where Barrichello ceded the lead to [[Michael Schumacher]], [[team orders]] have been banned in Formula One. Räikkönen appeared unbothered when asked about Massa's pass: "I mean we know what we want as a team and that's what we did it. It is normal in these situations."<ref name="pressconference"/> No investigation was undertaken by the stewards at the race.<ref name="gpreport"/> GrandPrix.com played down the incident, saying "Anyone who understands racing understood what was going on and only the silly people objected."<ref name="gpreport"/>

Kovalainen's car had apparently been fitted with mismatched tyres at the front of the car during the first [[List of motorsport terminology#S|stint]], meaning that the tyres spun in the opposite direction to which they were designed, causing his [[understeer]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71610 |title=China Sunday quotes: McLaren |work= autosport.com |publisher= Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-19 |access-date=2009-02-09}}</ref> At his first pit stop his team, not realising the cause of the problem, had adjusted his [[Formula One car#Aerodynamics|front wing]] to compensate for the understeer and replaced the tyres correctly.<ref name="kovtyre">{{cite web |url=http://www.turunsanomat.fi/f1/?ts=1,3:2001:0:0,4:35:0:0:0;4:36:0:0:0;4:34:705:1:2008-10-20,104:34:571476,1:0:0:0:0:0: |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914094829/http://www.turunsanomat.fi/f1/?ts=1,3:2001:0:0,4:35:0:0:0;4:36:0:0:0;4:34:705:1:2008-10-20,104:34:571476,1:0:0:0:0:0: |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-09-14 |title=Heikillä ensi kertaa uralla renkaat väärinpäin |work= Turun Sanomat |publisher= TS-Group |language= fi |date=2008-10-20 |access-date=2009-02-09}}</ref> This caused further handling problems, and eventually led to his retirement.<ref name="kovtyre"/>

Kovalainen's failure to score, combined with the two Ferraris making the top three, meant that Ferrari extended their lead over McLaren in the Constructors' Championship from seven to 11 points.<ref name="pointsFIA"/> Massa said Ferrari had succeeded in the race: "I think for the Drivers' Championship it was not fantastic but for the Constructors' it was very good."<ref name="pressconference"/> Kubica's sixth place at the Grand Prix ruled out any chance of claiming the Drivers' Championship. The BMW driver said his focus would now be on getting as good a result as possible in Brazil, saying "There is now one race left, and I shall try hard to defend my third place."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71597 |title=Kubica aiming to retain third place |author=Pablo Elizalde |work= autosport.com |publisher= Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-10-19 |access-date=2009-02-07}}</ref> {{Clear}}

===Race classification=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%" |- ! Pos !! No !! Driver !! Constructor !! Laps !! Time/Retired !! Grid !! Points |- ! 1 | 22 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} '''[[Lewis Hamilton]]''' || '''[[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]]''' | 56 | 1:31:57.403 | 1 | '''10''' |- ! 2 | 2 || {{flagicon|Brazil}} '''[[Felipe Massa]]''' || '''[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]''' | 56 | +14.925 | 3 | '''8''' |- ! 3 | 1 || {{flagicon|Finland}} '''[[Kimi Räikkönen]]''' || '''[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]''' | 56 | +16.445 | 2 | '''6''' |- ! 4 | 5 || {{flagicon|Spain}} '''[[Fernando Alonso]]''' || '''[[Renault F1|Renault]]''' | 56 | +18.370 | 4 | '''5''' |- ! 5 | 3 || {{flagicon|Germany}} '''[[Nick Heidfeld]]''' || '''[[BMW Sauber]]''' | 56 | +28.923 | 9 | '''4''' |- ! 6 | 4 || {{flagicon|Poland}} '''[[Robert Kubica]]''' || '''[[BMW Sauber]]''' | 56 | +33.219 | 11 | '''3''' |- ! 7 | 12 || {{flagicon|Germany}} '''[[Timo Glock]]''' || '''[[Toyota F1|Toyota]]''' | 56 | +41.722 | 12 | '''2''' |- ! 8 | 6 || {{flagicon|Brazil}} '''[[Nelson Piquet Jr.]]''' || '''[[Renault F1|Renault]]''' | 56 | +56.645 | 10 | '''1''' |- ! 9 | 15 || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Sebastian Vettel]] || [[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 56 | +1:04.339 | 6 | |- ! 10 | 9 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[David Coulthard]] || [[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault F1|Renault]] | 56 | +1:14.842 | 15 | |- ! 11 | 17 || {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Rubens Barrichello]] || [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] | 56 | +1:25.061 | 13 | |- ! 12 | 8 || {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Kazuki Nakajima]] || [[WilliamsF1|Williams]]-[[Toyota F1|Toyota]] | 56 | +1:30.847 | 17 | |- ! 13 | 14 || {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Bourdais]] || [[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 56 | +1:31.457 | 8 | |- ! 14 | 10 || {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Mark Webber (racing driver)|Mark Webber]] || [[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault F1|Renault]] | 56 | +1:32.422 | 16 | |- ! 15 | 7 || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Nico Rosberg]] || [[WilliamsF1|Williams]]-[[Toyota F1|Toyota]] | 55 | +1 Lap | 14 | |- ! 16 | 16 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Jenson Button]] || [[Honda Racing F1|Honda]] | 55 | +1 Lap | 18 | |- ! 17 | 21 || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] || [[Force India]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 55 | +1 Lap | 20 | |- ! {{abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 23 || {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Heikki Kovalainen]] || [[McLaren (racing)|McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]] | 49 | Pneumatics | 5 | |- ! {{abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 20 || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Adrian Sutil]] || [[Force India]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 13 | Gearbox | 19 | |- ! {{abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 11 || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Jarno Trulli]] || [[Toyota F1|Toyota]] | 2 | Collision damage | 7 | |- !colspan="8"|{{center|Source:<ref name="classification"/>}} |}

==Championship standings after the race== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} ;Drivers' Championship standings {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;" |- ! ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Position}} ! Driver ! Points |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 1 | {{flagicon|GBR}} '''[[Lewis Hamilton]]*''' | 94 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 2 | {{flagicon|BRA}} '''[[Felipe Massa]]*''' | 87 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 3 | {{flagicon|POL}} [[Robert Kubica]] | 75 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 4 | {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Kimi Räikkönen]] | 69 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 5 | {{flagicon|GER}} [[Nick Heidfeld]] | 60 |- !colspan=4|Source:<ref name="champ">{{Cite web|url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/chine/championnat.aspx|title=China 2008 - Championship • STATS F1|website=www.statsf1.com|access-date=14 March 2019}}</ref> |} {{col-2}} ;Constructors' Championship standings {|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;" |- ! ! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Position}} ! Constructor ! Points |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 1 | {{flagicon|ITA}} '''[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]*''' | 156 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 2 | {{flagicon|GBR}} '''[[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]]*''' | 145 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 3 | {{flagicon|GER}} [[BMW in Formula One|BMW Sauber]] | 135 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 4 | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] | 72 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 5 | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] | 52 |- !colspan=4|Source:<ref name="champ"/> |} {{col-end}}

* '''Note''': Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings. * '''Bold text''' and an asterisk indicates competitors who still had a theoretical chance of becoming World Champion.

== See also == * [[2008 Chinese GP2 Asia Series round]]

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} {{Wikinews|Lewis Hamilton wins 2008 Chinese Grand Prix}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110604000214/http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/china/Pages/race_classification.aspx Official FIA results]

{{F1 race report |Name_of_race = [[Chinese Grand Prix]] |Year_of_race = 2008 |Previous_race_in_season = [[2008 Japanese Grand Prix]] |Next_race_in_season = [[2008 Brazilian Grand Prix]] |Previous_year's_race = [[2007 Chinese Grand Prix]] |Next_year's_race = [[2009 Chinese Grand Prix]] }} {{F1GP 00-09}}

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[[Category:Chinese Grand Prix]] [[Category:2008 Formula One races|Chinese Grand Prix]] [[Category:2008 in Chinese motorsport|Grand Prix]] [[Category:October 2008 sports events in China|Chinese Grand Prix]]