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Formula 1 - Shanghai (China)

Seizoen: 2007 - Aflevering: 16 / 170 - Eerst uitgezonden: 07 oktober 2007 - Episode ID: 397812

IV Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix Date: October 7 2007 Location: Shanghai International Circuit Shanghai, People's Republic of China Course: Permanent Racing Facility 5.451 km (3.387 mi) Distance: 56 laps, 305.066 km (189.559 mi) Weather: Light Rain at the start before drying out. Light rain in the middle of the race before drying. Pole position:Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:35.908 Fastest lap: Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:37.454 on lap 56 Qualifying Sebastian Vettel was facing a drop of ten places on the grid for his collision against Mark Webber in the preceding race (the Japanese Grand Prix), but this punishment was reduced to a reprimand.However, he was then dropped five places on the grid for impeding Heikki Kovalainen during qualifying. Despite the fact that Kimi Räikkönen had been the fastest driver in all three previous practices and in the first two stages of the qualifying session, Lewis Hamilton managed to beat this time on the third qualifying stage and therefore earning the pole position. Race From the Sunday morning, conditions at Shanghai were wet, forcing all drivers to use "shallow wet" tyres. At the start Lewis Hamilton managed to keep his leading position. Vitantonio Liuzzi was the most successful starter, winning three positions at the first lap and overtaking Mark Webber and then Nick Heidfeld in the following three laps. Ralf Schumacher, after he has rolled into spin at the first corner, was dropped down to the last position. Toyota driver regained most of his lost positions, until lap 22 he overtook eight drivers. But the change of tyres to pseudo-slick cost the German the race: he twice spun off the course and retired at lap 26. As the track dried Hamilton began to suffer from tyre wear. With his pit stop imminent Mclaren elected to keep Lewis out until he had moved into the pit stop window. This was to work to his disadvantage though as he lost a significant amount of time on track because his tires had worn down to the cords. He then found himself without enough grip to negotiate the still-wet sharp left turn entering the pit lane. After running wide into a gravel trap he beached the car and was forced to retire. After Räikkönen's pit stop, Robert Kubica became temporary leader, but retired while leading because of gearbox hydraulics failure. In the struggle for 3rd position, which soon became 2nd, Alonso passed by Massa. The Spaniard initially left his opponent behind with a large gap, but on the last laps Massa managed to beat his partner's fastest lap and decreased his gap to Alonso to 3 sec. The race was won by Räikkönen, with Alonso as runner-up and Massa third. Sebastian Vettel, who had started 17th and chosen a one-stop tactic, finished fourth, the best result of his career at the time. Notes * Lap Leaders: Lewis Hamilton 24 (1–15 & 20–28), Kimi Räikkönen 31 (16–19,29–32 & 34–56) and Robert Kubica 1 (33). * Ferrari achieved its 200th Formula One win, and its 600th Formula One podium. * First points of the season for Toro Rosso. * Hamilton retired for the first time in his career. * This race was the final Grand Prix for Alexander Wurz, who announced his immediate retirement the day after the race.