[Official] Driver of the Race - 2011 Chinese Grand Prix

[ChrisPage]

Hamilton, just over Webber. Lewis was supreme today - the overtaking despite speed advantanges was just clinical and bang on.

Great fair but firm racing from almost everyone today though. So much tempation for doors to be closed to with that much action/speed difference going on, but noone (except Perez, maybe Hiedfield) was anything but fair that I saw.

One thing that stops Lewis getting a pure 10/10 from me is that surely he lost a place before the first stop when he dropped behind Massa? We missed it live with Jenson's dodgy parking, and too much action for a reply! Anyone know what happened there?

[ChrisPage]

Originally Posted by deeks6

No question at all

You're right. You went Lewis of course?

[blaffer]

Hamilton.

[roachy101]

Hamilton and Webber both drove phenomenally but i think Hamilton edges it on the basis that he made some great moves on the track and Webber had a slightly poorer first stint (although the tyres didnt help)

[newlaprecord]

Gotta be Hamilton, for the educated choice of not using another set of options at qualifying and for all the nice calm, collected overtakings on Sunday.

He patted Button on the back after Saturday and destroyed him on Sunday. Cleary the first man who REALLY adopted to what 2011 and Pirellis are about.

[Dixie Flatline]

Massive props to Webber for dragging himself into third.

[cds_uk]

Went for Hamilton just over Webber, fine drives by lots of them today though.

[newlaprecord]

Originally Posted by Mr V

Can't help but wonder had Red Bull not gone for the 2 stopper with Vettels car, would he have won?

Yea a nice Rosberg-like 3 stoper, a working KERS and a working radio wouldnt have hureted.

[Lotusonpole]

For me Hamilton edged it by so very little a margin.
But Webber did a fantastic job.

In fact there were many excellent drives. Nice to see Massa coming back on form.
P

[GORDON STREETER]

Hamilton for me, drove a sensible race right to the end .

[The Snout]

In the context of the whole weekend, Webber.

[Bakersboy]

Not a great Webber fan but you've got to admire his drive today.

[SALEEN S7R]

Hamilton for me. He did everything he needed to in order to win today and pulled off some great overtakes. Webber did a great job too, but he is in what is probably still the fastest car in terms of raw pace so it shouldnt be a suprise that he was able to claim 3rd overall. Yes he started 18th on the grid but im sure if people think about it we can all think of similar drives, and some where drivers have even gone on to win the race, Barrichello at Hockenheim in 2000 for example.

[stripedcat]

I went for Webber in the end. A great drive to 3rd. I agree though, that he shouldn't have had that mistake in qualifying. Who knows where he would have been in the race, if he had not had that. I also think that starting on the soft tyre might have helped him as well. Still a great comeback drive from him.

Lewis in second place. Not using up his tyres this time. He must have learned the mistake from Sepang. Some good clean overtakes as well. Good that the leader of the race got caught and passed. Good for F1 as well.

Rosberg in third place as driver of the race. A pretty impressive drive. He beat Schumi, again. Sad that he missed out on a podium. It looked likely that this could have been Mercedes first win at one time, I was expecting McLaren to have a bad pitstop(Button aside) and the Mercedes to be leading still, but it didn't happen today.

Pretty decent drive from Vettel as well. Okay he had a bad start and got beaten in the race, but he still came away with third and is still top of the leader board. Bet he is sad he didn't make it 5 in a row.

[Peter Mallett]

Vettel came away with second.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by newlaprecord

Cleary the first man who REALLY adopted to what 2011 and Pirellis are about.

He'll be fine. But the track temps were much more like OZ. Lewis not so good when the temps are up and the track surface is more abrasive.

Vettel much compromised by two stop strategy. Button had a bit of a howler.

Gave it to Webber. Shame he got held up a bit in the early laps.

[ralf fan]

Webber or Lewis. Can't I vote for both?

Webber it is for me.

[phoenix]

I almost had to flip a coin to choose between Hamilton and Webber, but as Webber finished 3rd from 18th and had no KERS, his drive impressed me more, despite the lovely overtaking by Hamilton.

[Ralf's Girl]

Hamilton, for the win and some seriously gutsy overtaking. Webber's recovery was fantastic after the early part of the race when he wasn't getting anywhere, and Massa and TGF both had good drives as well.

If I was Jenson Button I would be feeling a tad embarrassed now.

[stripedcat]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Vettel came away with second.

Whoops, typo. Sorry.

[Steve Milward]

Hamilton for his overtakes, Webber was awesome though but Hamilton edges it for me

[JeremySmith]

Lewis Hamilton what brilliant drive by him today.. Webber storming from the back of the grid.. Lewis gets my vote!

[willb]

I voted for Webber. Although Hamilton made some very good passes, he didn't have as far to go as Mark did.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by Marbot

He'll be fine. But the track temps were much more like OZ. Lewis not so good when the temps are up and the track surface is more abrasive.

Do you mean like Montreal last season?

I shouldn't bite I know...

[F1Pete]

Potsie Webber for sure! A bad start, getting passed early on....I basically wrote him off and Brundle did too! All of sudden he was on the move and then appeared on camera regularly behind the leaders. Where the hell did he come from? I bet he had fun and upped his confidence in a big way. Vettel sure was sombre at the press conference. Button had a brain fart....that is the only explanation I can think of.