2014 Formula One Chinese Grand Prix: Mercedes dominant again

Four races into the Formula One season, and here are the results so far: three wins for Lewis Hamilton, two drivers claiming top honors, and one team running away with it all. This is how 2014 has been unfolding: the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team, armed with their powerplant that uses less fuel and delivers more horsepower than any other engine on the grid, has been lording it over the standings. A simple relocation of their turbine and air compressor seemed to have given the Mercedes power unit a huge advantage over their rivals. This has all but guaranteed Hamilton and Nico Rosberg multiple trips to the podium this year.

 

Qualifying in China was wet and caught out a few drivers, but when all was said and done, Hamilton stood on pole while Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo took second. As defending drivers world champion Sebastian Vettel claimed third, the RBR fans were abuzz with the news that their team seemed to have caught up, and could give the Mercs a fight for the championship. Rosberg took fourth while Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso slotted behind in fifth.

 

As the lights went out for the start of the Chinese GP, Lewis had a quick get away, leading the field into turn 1. A fast start from Massa in his Williams saw him making contact with Alonso and nearly took out the Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel put the jump on his teammate, who slipped back to fourth, behind Alonso. Rosberg also found the start a bit tricky and coulc only manage sixth after the start.

 

Meanwhile, Hamilton was driving like the car was on rails. The performance was near perfection, and he left the others to fight it out amongst themselves for the remaining positions.

 

While the lead Mercedes was flying, the RB10 of Sebastian Vettel was doing the exact opposite. For the second consecutive race, he was ordered to let his teammate pass. This did not sit well with the four-time world champion, and he seemingly ignored team orders (again), letting Ricciardo have a go at racing him for the lead. But Vettel’s lack of pace was clear, and Ricciardo was able to pass him with relative ease to the delight of the non-Sebastian fans.

 

Fernando Alonso who had a car that many pundits consider as a midfield racer, at best, wrung out all the power that he could from the F14-T. He slowly and quietly drove it to take third at the checkered flag, marking Ferrari’s first podium of the season. Rosberg claimed second behind the eventual winner, Lewis Hamilton, who was never threatened. He had such a commanding lead that even after stopping for tires, he would emerge from the pits, still in the lead.

 

There was less excitement in China compared to the previous race in Bahrain. But as the teams head back to Europe, it is certain that all the boys in the factories are working double-time to find a way to catch the faster Mercedes pair, not least to provide better wheel-to-wheel racing to the end of the season.

 

But in the meantime, Rosberg still leads the championship with 79 points, 4 points ahead of Lewis, who is at 75. In a distant third place is Fernando Alonso with 41 points, followed by Nico Hulkenberg of Force India-Mercedes, Vettel, and Ricciardo with 36, 33 and 24 points respectively. In the constructors race, Mercedes has 154 points to take the top spot, with Red Bull in second with 57, and Force India running a close third with 54 points.

 

Will the other teams find a way to take the fight to the Mercedes boys? Or will they run away with it all? Whatever the outcome, this will surely be a season worth watching.