Chinese GP: Kimi Raikkonen Ultimate Winner of the Weekend

Chinese GP Results
1 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:37:58.395
2 F. Alonso McLaren + 9.800
3 F. Massa Ferrari + 45.800
4 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso + 53.500
5 J. Button Honda + 1:08.600
6 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso + 1:13.600
7 N. Heidfeld BMW + 1:14.200
8 D. Coulthard Red Bull + 1:20.700
9 H. Kovalainen Renault + 1:21.100
10 M. Webber Red Bull + 1:24.600
11 G. Fisichella Renault + 1:26.600
12 A. Wurz Williams + 1 laps
13 J. Trulli Toyota + 1 laps
14 T. Sato Super Aguri + 1 laps
15 R. Barrichello Honda + 1 laps
16 N. Rosberg Williams + 2 laps
17 S. Yamamoto Spyker F1 + 3 laps
Did not finish
18 R. Kubica BMW + 23 laps
19 L. Hamilton McLaren + 26 laps
20 R. Schumacher Toyota + 31 laps
21 A. Sutil Spyker F1 + 32 laps
22 A. Davidson Super Aguri + 45 laps

Source: PlanetF1

Lewis Hamilton's bright beginning to the Chinese GP ended off with a dramatic and tragical sizzle. At the start of the race, light rain began to drizzle down the track and the teams all opted for the Intermediate tires. Lewis Hamilton kept a strong hole on the first position, and at one point, even opened up a wide gap between him and 2nd placed Kimi Raikkonen.

The top 4 drivers - Lewis, Kimi, Fernando and Massa went into the pits and made the decision not to change their intermediate tires (which were beginning to become slick tires given their wear-and-tear) since it looked like the track was beginning to dry up. Massa began to experience problems with his intermediate tires first as he struggled for grip on the track. Fernando Alonso had a couple of run-offs but managed to keep his third place, while Lewis Hamilton, under the tremendous pressure from Kimi Raikkonen, lost out the most.

As he was coming into the pitlane for tire change, he was unable to stop his car from sliding off the track and into the gravel at the pitlane entry. He was unable to get his stuck car out of the gravel even with the help of race marshalls. That was the end of the race for him, and he collected no points at all.

Kimi Raikkonen then went on to collect the 200th victory for Ferrari, which is also the 600th time a Ferrari driver has gotten onto the podium, while his teammate Felipe Massa finished in third place, behind Mclaren's Fernando Alonso.

Sebastian Vettel, with an impressive one stop strategy, finished in the 4th spot ahead of the Honda of Jenson Button, while the other Toro Rosso Vitantonio Liuzzi finished in 6th place. Toro Rosso had a really great weekend as they collect their first points finishes. Nick Heidfeld managed a disappointing 7th position, having struggled all weekend, while Red Bull's David Coulthard took the last point-finishing spot.

With just one race left, the drivers head to the Brazillian Grand Prix in 2 weeks' time with this standing:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 107 points
2. Fernando Alonso- 103 points
3. Kimi Raikkonen - 100 points

Just 7 points separate the top 3 drivers.

For Lewis Hamilton, all he needed to do is to finish ahead of both Fernando and Kimi to win his first championship title.

For Fernando Alonso, he needs Lewis Hamilton to finish 5 points behind him, and Kimi Raikkonen to finish behind him.

For Kimi Raikkonen, he would need a victory for himself, Lewis Hamilton to finish 6th or below, and Fernando Alonso to finish 3rd or below to collect his first, and long awaited drivers' championship title.