Race on for chequered flag in Shanghai’s fast lanes

LEWIS Hamilton goes for a record sixth Chinese Grand Prix win this week with Mercedes aiming to bring their “A game” for a quick strike back at unbeaten Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel.

Germany’s Vettel and Ferrari stole a march on the Silver Arrows with victory in Australia to open the Formula One season and followed up with a tense triumph last weekend in Bahrain.

Both Vettel and Hamilton are chasing a fifth world championship, but the Englishman has easily been the most successful driver in the 14-year history of the race at the Shanghai International Circuit with five wins.

Another triumph will help Mercedes get back on track after early season blunders that prompted a bout of handwringing in the team.

“This is not the start to the season we had hoped for,” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said.

“There is absolutely no margin for imperfections or mistakes in this year’s title fight. In order to win this year, we need to bring our A game.”

In Australia, the combination of a Virtual Safety Car intervention and a software bug deprived defending world champion Hamilton of victory.

While a five-place grid penalty due to a gearbox change and communications problems in Bahrain hampered the Englishman from charging for victory in the race.

Valtteri Bottas and Hamilton still managed to take second and third place for Mercedes.

Mercedes have won five times in the last six Chinese Grands Prix, with Fernando Alonso in 2013 recording the last Ferrari victory in Shanghai.

Hamilton admitted earlier this week he had little idea how or why Ferrari had been able to outperform Mercedes. “Hopefully, when we go to China for the next race, we will have a better understanding of the tyres and put up a better fight against Ferrari.” —