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Formula One
F1: Button Wins Chinese Grand Prix
Defending F1 world champion Jenson Button notched his second win of 2010 on Sunday in Shanghai…
Jared Turner  |  Posted April 18, 2010   Shanghai (CHN)
Jenson Button became the first driver to win two races in 2010 by winning in China Sunday. (Photo: LAT Photographic)
One slip by Nico Rosberg was all Jenson Button needed to grab the lead in Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Once Button took the top spot, he took command. In other words: There was no catching the defending F1 champ.

After passing Rosberg when the Mercedes driver briefly ran off a rain-soaked course on lap 19 of 56, Button built a sizeable advantage and then held off a charge from teammate Lewis Hamilton in the final laps.

With his triumph, Button took over the points lead and became the first driver to win multiple races this season

“This victory, it’s very special and it really means a lot,” said the British driver, who scored his earlier victory in Australia. “It’s not just about being quick. It’s about reading the conditions.”

There were certainly plenty of conditions to read on Sunday, and different tire strategies that were employed as rain hampered race proceedings at the 3.387-mile circuit a second straight year.

Unlike teammate Hamilton, who pitted four times, Rosberg completed the race on just two stops.

A decision to stay out when most of the leaders came in on lap 2 proved key to the outcome. With rain beginning to intensify and many drivers switching to slick tires, Rosberg inherited the lead and Button moved into second by remaining on track. That’s where the two drivers stayed until Rosberg’s slip, which allowed Button to sneak past.

“I made a mistake so he came by, but in general, I’m really, really, happy with today’s result,” Rosberg said.

Rosberg spent most of the remaining laps in the runnerup spot before surrendering it to Hamilton in the pits on lap 39. Hamilton then shaved considerable time off Button’s lead in the closing laps before finishing 1.5 seconds back to give McLaren a 1-2 finish.

Hamilton spent portions of the race in the back half of the top 10, engaging in close on-track battles with Michael Schumacher, among others.

“I had quite an eventful race,” Hamilton said.

The same was true for Fernando Alonso, who used a terrific start to overtake top qualifying Red Bull Racing teammates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber at the green.

Officials ruled that Alonso jumped the start, however, and issued a drive-through penalty to the Ferrari driver. He rallied to finish fourth but was never in contention for the win. Renault’s Robert Kubica rounded out the top five.

Positions six through 10 belonged to Vettel, Vitaly Petrov, Webber, Felipe Massa and Schumacher.

Massa, who held the series lead by two points entering the race, fell to sixth in the standings and 19 points behind Button.

Button holds a 10-point lead over second-place Rosberg with Alonso and Hamilton both a point back.

Vettel is fifth in standings, four points behind Alonso and Hamilton, and four points ahead of Massa.

Seven drivers failed to finish.

Chinese Grand Prix Results

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