Rosberg wins six straight with dominant victory

Nico Rosberg avoided the early drama to win his sixth successive Formula One race with a dominant display at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday.

Despite losing out to Daniel Ricciardo at the first corner, Rosberg managed to reclaim the lead on the third lap when the Red Bull driver suffered a left-rear puncture after running over debris.

The German was untroubled from that point on, guiding his Mercedes to victory ahead of second-placed Sebastian Vettel, extending his lead in the F1 drivers' standings to 36 points with his third win in as many races to open the season.

It was an eventful race for Ferrari after a collision at the opening turn between team-mates Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen saw their hopes of a win dashed, but both drivers managed to finish in the top five after the Finn battled home for fifth.

Daniil Kvyat secured his second F1 podium after guiding his Red Bull home in third, just ahead of team-mate Ricciardo, who put in a superb shift to finish in fourth place after his initial troubles.

Defending champion Lewis Hamilton - who started the race from last place on the grid - also suffered contact on the first corner but worked his way through the pack to salvage a seventh-place finish that keeps him second in the championship.

Rounding out the top 10 were the Williams duo of Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas - who finished sixth and 10th respectively - while Torro Rosso drivers Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz made it home in eighth and ninth.

NIGHTMARE START FOR FERRARI

Vettel hit his Ferrari team-mate Raikkonen from behind, spinning the Finn around at the opening turn. Vettel damaged his front wing while Raikkonen also needed to pit, effectively ending their hopes of a race win.

However, both did incredibly well to battle back for strong finishes in the top five. Vettel was unhappy with Kvyat, branding him a "madman" on the radio and blaming him for the collision, with the pair later clashing prior to the podium presentation.

BAD LUCK FOR RICCIARDO

Ricciardo got off to the perfect start from the front row of the grid to take an early lead. The Australian kept Rosberg behind up until the third lap when the Mercedes driver passed him on the back straight as Ricciardo suffered a tyre puncture, forcing him to the back of the pack. But, just like the Ferrari's, Ricciardo worked his way through to finish a respectable fourth.

HAMILTON LOSES GROUND

It was always going to be hard from Hamilton starting from the back, but his task became even more complicated after contact in the opening turn saw his front wing lodged under his Mercedes. A safety car after Ricciardo's puncture helped the world champion to make another pit stop for a change of strategy, but it was always going to be damaged limitation as team-mate Rosberg went on to get the better of him for a sixth consecutive race.

ROSBERG IN IMPRESSIVE COMPANY

Rosberg's victory saw him become just the fourth driver in F1 history to win six or more races in a row. Sebastian Vettel (9 successive wins) holds the record, followed by Alberto Ascari and Michael Schumacher (both 7). Every driver who has won the first three races of the season has gone on to finish as world champion.

EVERY CAR FINISHES

All 22 cars that took to the grid finished the 56-lap race - just the sixth time in F1 history that has happened. Considering all the chaos at the Shanghai International Circuit, it is surprising that every car managed to cross the line.

IN THE POINTS

1. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)2. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) +37.776secs3. Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull) +45.936s4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) +52.688s5. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) +1:05.872s6. Felipe Massa (Williams) 1:15.511s7. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +1:18.230s8. Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso) +1:19.268s9. Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso) +1.24.127s10. Valtteri Bottas (Williams) +1.26.192s

TITLE STANDINGS

1. Nico Rosberg 752. Lewis Hamilton 39 (+36)3. Daniel Ricciardo 36 (+39)4. Sebastian Vettel 33 (+42)5. Kimi Raikkonen 28 (+47)

1. Mercedes 1142. Ferrari 61 (+53)3. Red Bull 57 (+57)4. Williams 29 (+85)5. Haas 18 (+96)

NEXT UPRosberg will be looking to keep up his 100 per cent record in 2016 with another win in two weeks' time at the Russian Grand Prix. However, do not count out Hamilton, who knows he must start closing the gap to his team-mate in the drivers' standings if he wants to win a third-straight title.