Hamilton dominates Shanghai tracks to outclass teammate Rosberg and win Chinese GP

Mercedes outclassed Ferrari as Lewis Hamilton dominated the Shanghai International Circuit to win the Chinese Grand Prix with his teammate Nico Rosberg coming in second, while Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen came in behind them.

The British world champion drove with pace in hand, unleashing his potential only when needed around the pit stops, to beat teammate Rosberg, while four-time world champion Vettel, who moved to Ferrari from Red Bull this year, came in third.

Vettel and Raikkonen were in touch only because Mercedes were managing their tyres, the BBC reported.

Williams' Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas finished fifth and six.

The pre-race debate had all centered around whether Ferrari's lighter tyre usage could enable them to overcome the better speed of the Mercedes, as it had when Germany's Vettel won in Malaysia two weeks ago.

But Mercedes, with Hamilton and Rosberg converting their front-row grid positions into first and second places at the start, were comfortable at the front.

Hamilton's second victory in three races this season extended his championship lead to 13 points over Vettel, whose advantage over Rosberg was cut to four, the report added.