2008 Chinese Grand Prix
The 2008 Chinese Grand Prix (officially the 2008 Formula 1 Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 19 October 2008 at the Shanghai International Circuit. It was the 17th and penultimate race of the 2008 Formula One World Championship. Lewis Hamilton for the McLaren team won the 56-lap race from pole position. Ferrari driver Felipe Massa finished second, and Kimi Räikkönen was third in the other Ferrari. This was the 200th Grand Prix victory by a British driver.
| 2008 Chinese Grand Prix | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race 17 of 18 in the 2008 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details | |||||
| Date | 19 October 2008 | ||||
| Official name | 2008 Formula 1 Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix | ||||
| Location |
Shanghai International Circuit Shanghai, People's Republic of China | ||||
| Course | Permanent Racing Facility | ||||
| Course length | 5.451 km (3.387 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 56 laps, 305.066 km (189.559 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Dry | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver |
| McLaren-Mercedes | |||
| Time | 1:36.303 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | |||
| Time | 1:36.325 on lap 13 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First |
| McLaren-Mercedes | |||
| Second | Ferrari | ||||
| Third | Ferrari | ||||
|
Lap leaders | |||||
Hamilton, the eventual Drivers' Champion, led the Championship going into the race, and started from pole position alongside Räikkönen. Second in the Drivers' Championship, Massa began from third, next to Fernando Alonso of Renault. The first three drivers retained their positions into the first corner, but Alonso was passed by Hamilton's McLaren teammate Heikki Kovalainen. Alonso, however, was able to regain the place midway through the first lap. Over the course of the race, Hamilton extended a considerable lead over the two Ferraris. Massa passed Räikkönen with seven laps remaining, to improve his chances of surpassing Hamilton's points tally at the final race in Brazil.
The result extended Ferrari's lead over McLaren in the Constructors' Championship from seven to 11 points. Third-placed in the Drivers' Championship, Robert Kubica's sixth place at the Grand Prix eliminated his hopes of winning the Championship, and reduced his lead over fourth-placed Räikkönen to six points. Nelson Piquet Jr. scored his last world championship points at this race.