2014 Chinese Grand Prix: Top 10 Reader Results!

The fourth Grand Prix of the Formula 1 season took place in China, on the Shanghai circuit. The race, initially scheduled for 56 laps, was ultimately shortened by two laps due to an error in waving the checkered flag too early.

The ranking of the top ten drivers at the finish was as follows:

Lewis Hamilton

2. Nico Rosberg

3. Fernando Alonso

4. Daniel Ricciardo

5. Sebastian Vettel

6. Nico Hülkenberg

7. Valtteri Bottas

8. Kimi Räikkönen

9. Sergio Pérez

10. Daniil Kvyat

Let’s see if you followed the race order…

1. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – 25 points

Pole uncontested in the rain, imperial victory on the dry: the Briton only let the fastest lap in the race slip away, due to – or rather thanks to – economical management of the tires and fuel, allowing him not to strain his mechanics too much, thus achieving three consecutive wins for the first time in his career.

Hamilton’s race impressed you so much that some don’t even provide an explanation, as his first place seems to follow naturally. You also highlight his pole position in the rain.

2. Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) – 18 points

More comfortable over the entire weekend, the Spaniard managed to reach the Chinese podium by expertly handling the undercut, a strategy that involves anticipating pit stops to get fresh tires more quickly and clocking fast laps, but also benefitting from a start where he had already gained two positions.

Some of you are surprised by this podium, given that Ferrari seemed to be at rock bottom before arriving in China, where they found ground more suited to their potential. Alonso’s domination over Räikkönen is also highlighted.

3. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) – 15 points

After a mediocre qualifying, which ended with a spin on his last attempt, and an equally poor start, the championship leader did not falter in his quest to climb back to the second step of the podium, a position he has claimed for three races, by outmaneuvering Vettel and then Alonso.

You particularly highlight the comeback of driver No. 6 after a poor start to explain his ranking. Additionally, some do not hide their disappointment with Rosberg’s race compared to that of his teammate, which was different but commanding.

4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) – 12 points

Qualified once again in second position, the Australian missed his start and then mostly paid the price for the lack of competitiveness of his Red Bull against Alonso’s Ferrari and Rosberg’s Mercedes, making it difficult to hope for better. However, he gained the advantage over his teammate, who was once again required to step aside for him.

For Ricciardo, it is obviously the fact that he beat Vettel that you primarily remember, while also acknowledging a well-controlled race and an astonishing level at the wheel of the RB10.

5. Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) – 10 points

Unlike his teammate, the four-time World Champion had a good start, even securing second position until the first pit stop. Subsequently, the lack of straight-line speed of the Red Bull, particularly compared to Alonso’s Ferrari, dashed his ambitions, in addition to a more performant teammate forcing him to relinquish his fourth place.

For Vettel, besides the fact that Ricciardo has outpaced him again, the main impression is that he is struggling with his car, although his competitive spirit is not forgotten.

6. Nico Hülkenberg (Force India) – 8 points

Once again, the German is placed at the finish and earns important points for himself and his team, while proving that he has unwavering consistency. He resisted Bottas’s comeback at the end of the race.

Discretion, efficiency… are undoubtedly the words that best suit Hülkenberg’s race, in your opinion, as you believe he could not have done better and is taking back the lead after Pérez’s podium in Bahrain.

7. Felipe Massa (Williams) – 6 points

For the Brazilian, taking off has become a specialty as he was heading for third place before getting trapped between Rosberg and Alonso, whom he even touched, although without serious consequences, except for his own momentum. Subsequently, his disastrous first pit stop knocked him out of a top 6 finish that seemed promised to him.

You point out the bad luck of the Paulist who was on the verge of having a good race. You also salute his thunderous start.

8. Valtteri Bottas (Williams) – 4 points

Like Hülkenberg, whom he ended up closely trailing towards the end of the race, the Finn was consistent during this race, not gaining any positions but not losing any either, notably leaving Räikkönen about twenty seconds behind by the end of the event.

If Bottas’s consistency is highlighted, some of you have been a little disappointed by his performance, to the point that you ultimately rank him behind his teammate in this top 10.

9. Romain Grosjean (Lotus) – 2 points

After the first Q3 of the season, the Franco-Swiss seemed in a position to hope for the top 10 for the first time of the year. However, a stubborn and then completely failing gearbox dashed his hopes, forcing him to retire halfway through the race.

Despite a retirement, you place the Lotus driver in the top 10 for both his qualifying and his race, which was serious despite a car that you deem inferior.

10. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) – 1 point

Still struggling throughout the weekend, and significantly hampered by a lack of running on the first day, Iceman put up with the pressure at the beginning of the race against Grosjean’s Lotus before overtaking it in the second stint to secure his final position at the finish, eighth.

Sign of his rough patch, despite his presence overall in the top 10, the voters who commented on their vote did not include the Finn. Ultimately, Räikkönen’s performance is judged through Alonso’s, and the verdict is clear: disappointment prevails.

Outside the top 10, no words, just a ranking:

11. Daniil Kvyat

12. Sergio Pérez

13. Jenson Button

14. Jean-Eric Vergne

15. Pastor Maldonado

16. Jules Bianchi

17. Kamui Kobayashi

18. Kevin Magnussen

19. Marcus Ericsson

20. Adrian Sutil

21. Esteban Gutiérrez

22. Max Chilton

A point on the readers’ ranking:

Thank you all for voting (182 forms were filled out) and see you on Sunday, May 11th to elect the top 10 of the Spanish Grand Prix /f1/actualite/17437-le-drapeau-a-damier-du-grand-prix-de-chine-brandi-trop-tot-.html!