Rosberg’s victory streak continues

NICO Rosberg claimed a dominant win in an action-packed Formula One Chinese Grand Prix yesterday, to extend his championship lead over Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton, who battled up to seventh with some feisty driving after starting last.

Rosberg crossed the line a mammoth 37.7 seconds ahead of German compatriot Sebastian Vettel, who recovered after colliding with his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen at the first corner, to claim his third win from three races this season.

The German now leads Hamilton by 36 points in the standings and is firmly in control of the championship, with 18 rounds of a record 21race season remaining.

He certainly has history on his side, with the winner of the first three races of the season having gone on to win the title each time.

“Well, it’s too early to make any summaries,” Rosberg said.

“It’s three races now and they’ve gone really well for me but it’s the longest season in F1 history with 21 races.”

The win was the 17th of Rosberg’s career and extended his streak of race victories to six, dating back to last November’s Mexican Grand Prix. Only three other drivers have ever put together a run of six or more wins in a row.

Vettel managed nine with Red Bull in 2013 and Michael Schumacher seven with Ferrari in 2004.

The other was Italian Alberto Ascari in the 1950s.

Daniil Kvyat finished third to score Red Bull their first podium finish since September’s Singapore Grand Prix but the Russian had to defend himself after the race when an angry Vettel blamed him for the collision between the Ferraris.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo finished fourth. The Australian rocketed off the line from second on the grid and shot past Rosberg into an early lead. — Reuters