By Sam Cooper.
October 7 2007

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes formula one team have completed the 2007 Chinese Grand Prix, with Spain’s Fernando Alonso ending the race in 2nd place, behind Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen. Meanwhile Britain’s Lewis Hamilton recorded his first DNF of the season after he skidded off into the gravel trap on the entrance to the pit lane. Lewis is sill leading the driver’s championship but only four points.

Britain’s Lewis Hamilton has retired from this fantastic Chinese Grand Prix, after he skidded off on the pit lane entrance and retired from today’s race and is now only four points clear of Fernando Alonso, and just seven in front of Kimi Räikkönen.

Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen has won the 2007 Chinese Grand Prix ahead of McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, with Räikkönen team mate Felipe Massa in third place. Massa struggled for pace through the changing conditions, but set the fastest lap in the closing stages of the race.

Scuderia Torro Rosso driver Sebastian Vettel recovered from his embarrassing mistake in Japan by finishing the race in 4th place, just eight seconds behind third placed Felipe Massa.

Honda’s Jenson Button drove a stunning race to collected a much needed four points for his struggling Honda team. Button started the race tenth but slid down the field to 15th place. After more rain fell on the circuit, Button switched to the dry tires and started to set new fastest lap times, which brought him closer to the leading three.

Vitantonio Liuzzi in the second Toro Rosso ended his race an impressive 6th place just 0.6 seconds ahead of BMW’s Nick Heidfeld, who finished the race in a disappointing 7th place.

Red Bull Racing driver David Coulthard transformed a fifth place on the grid into one world championship point. Renaults Hekki Kovalainen finished just 0.4 seconds behind Coulthard with Red Bulls Mark Webber in 10th.

To win the championship, Hamilton will have to finish at least 2nd at the Brazilian Grand Prix in two weeks time.

Race results will be shown below.