Hamilton Takes Checkered Flag in China

Few modern Grands Prix can fairly be regarded as “classics” without a bit of hindsight, but the Chinese GP on 17 April at Shanghai International Circuit plainly qualifies as one of them. As a tribute, we’ve compiled the 15-minute video highlights below.

Lewis Hamilton stormed to victory on a fresh set of option tires in the closing laps of a fabulous 2011 Grand Prix of China, a win that was even more impressive because McLaren had to work furiously on his car to get it to the grid in time because of a fuel leak. After straightforward victories in Australia and Malaysia, Red Bul’s Sebastian Vettel was pressed just to hang on to second place as the reigning World Champion’s gamble on a two-stop strategy — and a 25-lap run on Pirelli’s hard rubber — barely failed to pay off. In contrast, teammate Webber displayed characteristic grit to fight back from 18th on the grid to snatch his first podium of the season (and fastest lap) with a 3rd place finish, a mere 7s behind the leaders.

Hamilton used his McLaren team’s three-stop strategy brilliantly to chase down Sebastian Vettel and take the lead with four laps to go. “I never really knew right to the end I could do it,” he said. “It is one of the best grand prix wins I can remember.”