Chinese Grand Prix (2010) RESULT

The Shanghai Grand Prix 2010 gets underway.

The Red Bulls where on the front row. Alonso just behind. The McLarens on his shoulder. Did it rain? Did the Red Bulls get their race act together? Find out.

That Jenson Button. He’s making a big mistake going to McLaren, you know. Hamilton will walk all over him. So went the expert mantra earlier this year when Button made the decision to walk away from Mercedes and Ross Brawn to take his chances at Hamilton’s team. Trouble is, no one told Button he didn’t have a chance.

Instead of being humiliated by Hamilton’s aggressive driving and will-to-win, Button has come across as the wise old head with a Prost-like feel for the car and track. Hamilton, on the other hand, has come across as the hormone-addled, petulant adolescent with a huge natural talent but without the means to properly channel it. And that was never more apparent than today in China when McLaren pulled off a 1-2 to see Button stand on the top step for the second time this season.

For the second time this season Button kept his head when all around were losing theirs, this time with most of the grid dashing to the pits for inters as the rain started. Button’s feel for the car kept him in a straight line and well ahead – together with Rosberg who went the same route – and in to the lead when Rosberg tripped up. Button was never to lose the lead. The size of the lead waxed and waned as safety cars clawed back his lead every time he extended it, but at the front is where he stayed until the end.

Hamilton, on the other hand, was like a mad dervish, flying hither and thither almost oblivious to those around him. Some great overtaking on track; some barking mad manoeuvres in to and out of the pits (four times) and an entertaining spectacle for all. And he ended up just seconds behind Button at the end with tyres falling off but on the podium for second place. But add back in the time the safety car stole from Button and Hamilton would have been lucky to be on the same lap.

The action away from the McLarens was fun too. Straight from the off Alonso jumped the gun and suffered a drive-through penalty. Michael Schumacher did his best impression of Ralf to end up a rather sad tenth and the Red Bulls followed form by being brilliant in qualifying and rather disappointing in the race.

It looks like it’s time for the FIA to give up looking at new options to make F1 a better spectacle. Just invest in some rain-making machines (a Chinese speciality – I wonder?) that run a random programme to produce rain and we have a race to remember every time.

This win puts Button at the top of the drivers Championship and McLaren at the top of the constructors. Off to Spain in three weeks, and with the state of air travel in Europe there’s a big question mark over when everyone will be able to get back to the UK. Except Button. He’s already got a holiday booked to Thailand with the Mrs.

Jenson, any chance you could pick 6 numbers for me for the lottery this week?