SHANGHAI, China – Mercedes F1 driver Lewis Hamilton, after holding on to win what he called “a racer's race" a fortnight earlier in Bahrain, revelled in having the track to himself as he cruised to a hat-trick victory in the 2014 Chinese GP on April 20.
Hamilton’s win, the 25th of his F1 career win that drew him level with British great Jim Clark and his Mercedes team boss Niki Lauda, led every lap of the shortened 54-lap race, at times pulling away from his rivals by more than a second a lap.
"I'm so, so happy!” Hamilton said. “I had such a great race, I really enjoyed it, particularly the last few laps, really trying to keep temperature in the tyres, pushing a little bit more, just to keep temperature up, and the car was great."
'I WAS RACING MYSELF'
Hamilton crossed the line 18 seconds ahead of team mate Nico Rosberg, only lifting off briefly when the chequered flag was accidentally waved a lap early.
"It's incredible. I can't believe how amazing the car is and how hard everyone has worked," he said. "I was really just racing myself."
The 2008 F1 champion's win moved him to four points behind team mate and title rival Rosberg in the championship standings; it was also Mercedes' third consecutive 1-2 finish and Hamilton was quick to pay tribute to the team he joined a year earlier after six seasons at McLaren, the outfit which groomed him to compete in F1 and gave him his first break.
"The team is on a roll, that's for sure," Hamilton said. “The team has done a great job. The car was really good - I couldn't have asked for more."
Hamilton’s win, the 25th of his F1 career win that drew him level with British great Jim Clark and his Mercedes team boss Niki Lauda, led every lap of the shortened 54-lap race, at times pulling away from his rivals by more than a second a lap.
"I'm so, so happy!” Hamilton said. “I had such a great race, I really enjoyed it, particularly the last few laps, really trying to keep temperature in the tyres, pushing a little bit more, just to keep temperature up, and the car was great."
'I WAS RACING MYSELF'
Hamilton crossed the line 18 seconds ahead of team mate Nico Rosberg, only lifting off briefly when the chequered flag was accidentally waved a lap early.
"It's incredible. I can't believe how amazing the car is and how hard everyone has worked," he said. "I was really just racing myself."
The 2008 F1 champion's win moved him to four points behind team mate and title rival Rosberg in the championship standings; it was also Mercedes' third consecutive 1-2 finish and Hamilton was quick to pay tribute to the team he joined a year earlier after six seasons at McLaren, the outfit which groomed him to compete in F1 and gave him his first break.
"The team is on a roll, that's for sure," Hamilton said. “The team has done a great job. The car was really good - I couldn't have asked for more."