Formula 1: Mercedes-GP driver Nico Rosberg takes third place in China
Mercedes-GP driver Nico Rosberg showed a strong performance at the Chinese Grand Prix in the rain. The German whose car is equipped with dampers by ZF Sachs Race Engineering was leading the fourth round of the Formula 1 season over 17 laps and in the end clinched third place as his second podium exploit in a row. Rosberg improved to second place in the drivers standings, trailing the winner of the Chinese Grand Prix and title defender Jenson Button by just ten points.
Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari saw the chequered flag one position behind the driver of the Silver Arrow. The car driven by the Spaniard is fitted with dampers from Schweinfurt as well. Alonso痴 team colleague Felipe Massa and record world champion Michael Schumacher, who both rely on high tech from ZF Sachs as well, scored championship points at Shanghai too. In the race that saw numerous pit stops and incidents Massa finished in ninth and the German Mercedes-GP driver in tenth place.
Results, GP China (CN), 4th round, FIA Formula 1 World Championship, 16 Apr -18 Apr 2010:
1. Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, 1h 46m 42.163s
2. Lewis Hamilton, McLaren-Mercedes, + 1.530s
3. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes-Benz, + 9.484s, ZF Sachs
4. Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, + 11.869s, ZF Sachs
5. Robert Kubica, Renault, + 22.213s
6. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault, + 33.310s
7. Vitaly Petrov, Renault, + 47.600s
8. Mark Webber, Red Bull-Renault, + 52.172s
9. Felipe Massa, Ferrari, + 57.796s, ZF Sachs
10. Michael Schumacher, Mercedes-Benz, + 1m 01.749s, ZF Sachs
Drivers� standings:
1. Jenson Button, 60 points; 2. Nico Rosberg, 50; 3. Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, 49 each; 5. Sebastian Vettel, 45; 6. Felipe Massa, 41; 7. Robert Kubica, 40; 8. Mark Webber, 28; 9. Michael Schumacher and Adrian Sutil, 10 each.
Constructors� standings:
1. McLaren-Mercedes, 109 points; 2. Ferrari, 90; 3. Red Bull-Renault, 73; 4. Mercedes, 60; 5. Renault, 46; 6. Force-India-Mercedes, 18; 7. Williams-Cosworth, 6; 8. STR-Ferrari, 2.