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2008 Chinese Grand Prix

China  2008 Chinese Grand Prix
Race details
Race 17 of 18 in the 2008 Formula One season
Shanghai International Racing Circuit track map.svg
Date 19 October 2008
Official name V 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 mi)
Distance 56 laps, 305.066 km (189.559 mi)
Weather Dry
Pole position
Driver McLaren-Mercedes
Time 1:36.303
Fastest lap
Driver United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes
Time 1:36.325 on lap 13
Podium
First McLaren-Mercedes
Second Ferrari
Third Ferrari

The 2008 Chinese Grand Prix (formally the V Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix) was a Formula One motor race held on 19 October 2008 at the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China. It was the 17th and penultimate race of the 2008 Formula One season. The 56-lap race was won by Lewis Hamilton for the McLaren team after starting 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 British drivers.

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 ever world championship points at this race.


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