00:00The race in Shanghai begins in five lights time.
00:04The Chinese Grand Prix is underway
00:07and Max Verstappen gets the launch he needs to chop across Sergio Perez.
00:10Fernando Alonso, does he feel brave to sweep around the outside of the Mexican driver?
00:14Gets the jump at the moment, is the grip there?
00:17Alonso's being really brave, but the grip runs out.
00:19He's got the inside line, he's got second position.
00:22He moves past Perez as Verstappen holds the lead,
00:25but look at the traction that Alonso's got fighting the car.
00:28It is Verstappen, Alonso, then Perez were on board with fourth place Lando Norris.
00:32Alonso was working so hard to bring those tyres to life on the warm-up line,
00:36and it's paid off.
00:37The commitment and confidence he had around the outside of Turn 1 was staggering.
00:41Thought he was going to have a look at P1 for a minute as well.
00:43Oh, that really, really was an aggressive start by the driver in the green Aston Martin.
00:49Lando Norris chasing down Perez.
00:51Perez did not enjoy racing in the pack earlier on.
00:55And if you're thinking, who's that in the Haas?
00:57That is Nico Hülkenberg up two places.
01:00A poor getaway for both Ferraris.
01:02Leclerc down to eighth, Sainz down to ninth.
01:06The team's trying to get the tyres up to temperature,
01:09trying to make overtakes.
01:10As we see now, a big opportunity for Charles Leclerc,
01:13trying to make amends for losing places off the line.
01:15And he makes the pass into Turn 14.
01:18Gets past Hülkenberg, who's down to eighth.
01:21Sainz trying to come with him as well.
01:22Hülkenberg on the inside into the final corner.
01:24That'll compromise his exit, and Sainz could do with clearing the Haas as soon as possible.
01:29Maybe into Turn 1 here.
01:31Let's see.
01:31He pulls out of the slipstream, building up to 200 miles per hour.
01:35DRS is now enabled, but Sainz didn't have to wait for it.
01:38Hülkenberg knows his fight is not with the cars from Marinello.
01:43It looks like Alonso's pushing their tyres a lot harder than us.
01:46This is good.
01:47It is good news.
01:48Will there be any defence offered by Fernando Alonso?
01:51Or does he have to think about the long game?
01:53And Sergio Perez powers by and retakes second place in the Grand Prix.
01:59So, here we go with the young British driver, Lando Norris,
02:03trying to get past the oldest driver in the field.
02:06Fernando Alonso focusing on the race again.
02:08Park it on the apex. He tried that on the lap to the grid.
02:12And Lando Norris takes third place.
02:15This is so important for Leclerc to try and make the pass early,
02:19using one of the DRS zones.
02:21How brave is Leclerc feeling?
02:23Now that move isn't done yet, but Leclerc makes the pass,
02:27shuts the door and takes the long way round to take sixth place.
02:33Ah, there's an opportunity now for the Ferrari.
02:35That was late to pull out of the slipstream.
02:38But that's another position gained for the man from Monaco.
02:42Through goes Charles Leclerc.
02:43He's up to fifth and he's going chasing Fernando Alonso.
02:48Here's our race leader, Max Verstappen, all by himself as Perez comes in.
02:53In fact, he's so far ahead.
02:54Red Bull can double stack, not even worry about it.
02:56That is so impressive from Red Bull.
02:582.1 and two second stops back to back.
03:03Problem for Valtteri Bottas.
03:06He'd been having a good weekend.
03:08He was challenging for the points, but still, still, he can't find his way to the top 10.
03:15Thankfully for Norris, he will take the eight second benefit that you get for
03:20for pitting under the VSC. 15 second loss instead of a 23.
03:25And the full safety car is out.
03:27They cannot move that car due to this man's retirement.
03:31And into the pits we come with Max Verstappen.
03:34And Perez has been called in.
03:35Red Bull will have to double stack once again.
03:38Perez is going to lose track position here.
03:39So, through goes Norris, up to second place.
03:42It will change for you on the left-hand side.
03:45And Perez drops down.
03:46Now, Alonso comes into the pits.
03:48Can Leclerc get out before the Mexican driver?
03:50Can he get to that safety car line?
03:52I think he's going to do it.
03:53And he gets past.
03:54So, it's Verstappen, Norris and Charles Leclerc as Perez rejoins.
03:59Here we go.
04:00Lock up for everyone.
04:02Oh, contact at the back between Stroll and I think Ricciardo as Max Verstappen.
04:07Yeah, Hülkenberg moves up.
04:08Ricciardo moves down.
04:09It was a mess at the hairpin.
04:11The green flag flies once again at Shanghai International.
04:14And it's a great restart for Verstappen.
04:17This was at the hairpin.
04:18Oh, that is ridiculous.
04:19That is a huge hit into the back of Daniel Ricciardo for Stroll,
04:23who then had to pit.
04:24This is what it looked like on board.
04:25That just clobbered him.
04:27So, Stroll, who was hoping to return to the points today and had a good...
04:31Oh, spin in the background for one of the V-Cubs.
04:35And there you go.
04:37Oh, that is so disappointing for Yuki Tsunoda,
04:39who is pulling off.
04:40And will that require more intervention?
04:42That car looks like it's in trouble at the back.
04:45Magnussen on board.
04:46We've seen that before.
04:47There is the contact.
04:49Damage to the front left for Magnussen.
04:51Puncher, maybe more.
04:52For Yuki Tsunoda.
04:53This is on board.
04:54The Japanese driver.
04:56And this was against Carlos Sainz.
04:59And that's the soft tyre in full operating.
05:01Well, it caused chaos, but once he fired it up, it's a very effective tyre.
05:05And he got past Sainz.
05:08Take two, this time the pass for Stroll, who's able to get past.
05:13Ah, Magnussen leaves a wheel in.
05:15And they somehow make their way round the corner.
05:19Stroll leaves the widest berth possible.
05:22And this is really, really great battling for the last place on the road.
05:27Because Daniel Ricciardo has come into the pits and we're scrapping all the way through
05:31the order, but Stroll in the green Aston Martin.
05:34And Magnussen finding himself back ahead for the time being.
05:38It's as you were into the hairpin.
05:40Or is it late lunchtime now for the Canadian driver?
05:44Gets to the apex first.
05:45Will that be the pass?
05:46Oh, they're treating us to some great battling through this one.
05:50Magnussen doesn't want to give the place up.
05:52And they'll still continue this journey.
05:53I've got to bring you in now.
05:55This is our new Villeneuve.
05:56Dijon, isn't it?
05:58A lap of wheel-to-wheel action.
05:59Swapping places every corner.
06:02Here comes Magnussen again round the outside.
06:04And this time Stroll's elbow is out to claim the place.
06:11And this is the move for Perez.
06:13Trying to get past Charles Leclerc.
06:15Can Leclerc place the Ferrari in order to fight back?
06:18It's going to be close between these two.
06:19Side by side they go.
06:20No.
06:21Perez gets ahead.
06:23Alonso can take that soft tyre no further.
06:27And they felt the need to roll the dice.
06:29But it's not paid off.
06:31These two were not on the friendliest terms.
06:34Former teammates by the end of their time together.
06:37And Alonso will love to make the move as quickly as possible.
06:40Man, that is a quick direction change.
06:42And that is as quickly as possible.
06:45And it will not be a contest with fresh tyres.
06:48With DRS, he ceded the place to get rid of the softs.
06:51He put on the medium tyres.
06:53And another place gained by Fernando Alonso.
06:56Who goes after Lewis Hamilton.
06:58Who's up ten places at the moment.
07:01Oh!
07:02He nearly dropped it from the gravel.
07:04And did a Carlos Sainz from yesterday.
07:06Alonso so nearly into the barrier.
07:08And out of the race.
07:09How has he done that?
07:1142 years of age.
07:13But still providing box office moments.
07:15Fernando Alonso past Lewis Hamilton.
07:18And up to eighth.
07:19It could have all been over a few corners ago.
07:23To the hairpin turn 14.
07:25Another position gained.
07:27And up to seventh position.
07:30For the first time in his career.
07:31Max Verstappen crosses the line.
07:34To take victory in Shanghai.
07:37His 58th Formula One win.
07:40And he has destroyed the field once more.
07:44The Dutchman leads home.
07:47Lando Norris.
07:48Two Red Bulls on the podium.
07:49Thanks to Sergio Perez.
07:51And a first victory in Shanghai.
07:55For Max Verstappen.
07:56Who extends his lead.
07:57In the Drivers' Championship.
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