Lewis Hamilton Continues Amazing Run, Fourth Win in a Row

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time
1	62	Dave Cassidy		1:33.330
2	63	Jules Bianchi		1:33.387
3	2	Lewis Hamilton		1:33.534
4	1	Sebastian Vettel		1:33.573
5	29	Pastor Maldonado		1:34.224
6	27	Nathan McKane		1:34.269
7	90	Daniel Ricciardo		1:34.475
8	21	Stoffel Vandoorne		1:34.504
9	98	Salvatore Miccoli		1:34.604
10	30	Mike Rockenfeller		1:34.804
11	91	Max Verstappen		1:35.001
12	22	Johnny Cecotto Jr.		1:35.014
13	28	Romain Grosjean		1:35.243
14	99	Kevin Magnussen		1:35.433
15	32	Daniel Melrose		1:35.576
16	31	Rhys Davies		1:35.590
17	5	Valtteri Bottas		1:35.743
18	6	Ma Qinghua		1:35.878
19	43	Sébastien Bourdais		1:36.040
20	67	Marcel Agyemang-Badu		1:36.201
21	12	Scott Dixon		1:36.276
22	11	Carlos Sainz Jr		1:36.477
23	42	Davide Valsecchi		1:36.689
24	55	Artem Markelov		1:36.724
25	66	Esteban Ocon		1:36.821
26	56	Bradley Dagnall		1:37.246

* demoted five places for changing engine/gearbox

Report:

It is a rare, barely seen, feat in Formula One to win four races in a row. Even the great two-race rule change of 2010 has not changed that fact, given as, until October 28, 2018, it was not done in the two-race era. Lewis Hamilton came through and achieved the miraculous performance of a fourth consecutive win.

It did not look like it after morning’s qualifying: Jules Bianchi was ahead of the two Caterhams, only Dave Cassidy before him. However, the two Mercedes-Benz cars were beaten during the second pitstop phase, Hamilton coming out on top after Caterham changed his tyres and ran to the flag to take the flag.

Dave Cassidy was set for second, as Jules Bianchi was much more concerned with keeping the dangerous German, the reigning champion, Sebastian Vettel behind. However, in the final laps, Bianchi was able to significantly improve his speed and get close to Cassidy, but no team order was enacted by Jeroen Krautmeir.

Behind them, Nathan McKane was extremely impressive, even making Caterham and Precision work for their money in the first stint. In the end, McKane worked himself through a quiet race to earn a fifth place, a success Ferrari really needed. Mike Rockenfeller scored again, yet another double top 10 finish for Sauber.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	2	Lewis Hamilton		48:53.325	15
2	62	Dave Cassidy		+2.285	14
3	63	Jules Bianchi		+3.995	10
4	1	Sebastian Vettel		+7.423	8
5	27	Nathan McKane		+38.945	6
6	98	Salvatore Miccoli		+53.190	5
7	99	Kevin Magnussen		+57.785	4
8	21	Stoffel Vandoorne		+59.055	3
9	29	Pastor Maldonado		+59.615	2
10	30	Mike Rockenfeller		+60.697	1
11	91	Max Verstappen		+62.457	0
12	28	Romain Grosjean		+62.932	0
13	22	Johnny Cecotto Jr.		+69.121	0
14	90	Daniel Ricciardo		+69.631	0
15	31	Rhys Davies		+75.900	0
16	12	Scott Dixon		+87.192	0
17	66	Marcel Agyemang-Badu		+87.745	0
18	32	Daniel Melrose		+88.255	0
19	11	Carlos Sainz Jr.		+89.741	0
20	67	Esteban Ocon		+92.732	0
21	42	Davide Valsecchi		+94.295	0
22	6	Ma Qinghua		+96.015	0
23	43	Sébastien Bourdais		+1 Lap	0
24	56	Bradley Dagnall		Throttle	0
DNF	5	Valtteri Bottas		Engine	0
DNF	55	Artem Markelov		Electrical	0

Fastest Lap:

Lewis Hamilton – 1:34.636

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Nathan McKane – was fighting the leaders in the first third of the race.

Reject Of The Race:

Daniel Ricciardo – his “speed” was a poor excuse for a champion.