Chinese Grand Prix: Nico Rosberg romps to hat-trick

Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg (right) celebrates along with second-placed Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari after winning the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on Sunday. (Photo: AFP )

Nico Rosberg stormed to victory in a chaotic Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, methodically completing a hat-trick of wins to extend his perfect start to the 2016 Formula One season.

The German’s Mercedes was jumped at the start by Daniel Ricciardo. But after avoiding the first-corner mayhem unfolding behind the front two, he quickly caught the Red Bull and romped home to win by a whopping 38 seconds from Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton began from the back of the Shanghai grid after a mechanical failure on his Mercedes sabotaged qualifying for the Briton on Saturday. But he roared back to take seventh, despite pitting early to replace a damaged front wing.

“It’s too early to make any premature conclusions,” insisted Rosberg after stretching his championship lead to 36 points. “Lewis is not many points behind — 30 points is not much, it’s a race and a bit and he will never give up.”

Ferrari’s wretched fortunes continued after Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen collided at the first turn, allowing Daniil Kvyat’s Red Bull to slip past into third, which is where the Russian finished.

Vettel carved his way back through the field from 15th but blamed Kvyat for driving “like a madman” in a furious rant over the team radio.

“Kvyat’s attack was suicidal,” fumed the German, who was still squabbling with Kvyat.

“You came in like a torpedo!” Vettel barked at Kvyat before they stepped out to the podium, to which Kvyat shrugged: “That’s racing.”

Rosberg rammed home his advantage with a superb drive, becoming only the fourth driver to win six consecutive races — joining Vettel (nine), Alberto Ascari (seven) and Michael Schumacher (six) — after winning the last three of 2015.