Chinese GP Review: Renault

It was an afternoon of unrealised potential the ING Renault F1 Team as both Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet ended the Chinese Grand Prix outside the points. Wet conditions saw the race start under the safety car, which impacted on the team’s strategy and meant the team spent the afternoon fighting through the field. Fernando’s eventful race saw him finish in 9th while Nelson came home 16th.

Chinese GP Review: Brawn GP

Brawn GP’s Jenson Button took his third consecutive podium of the 2009 Formula One season at the end of a rain-soaked Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit today. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello finished in fourth position to secure further valuable points for the team’s championship challenge.

'Scary' driving at Chinese grand prix

• 'Just finishing this race was an achievement,' says Button• Hamilton pleased with points in 'incredibly tough' raceRed Bull took their first grand prix ­victory as Sebastian Vettel led home Mark Webber in a dominant one-two for the British-based team, but all 16 finishers in a rain-soaked Chinese grand prix could count themselves winners. Jenson Button maintained his lead of the championship after finishing third for Brawn in a race the Englishman described as "scary".Rain fell in varying degrees of intensity throughout the 56 laps, the third round of the championship lasting for two hours. "The conditions were crazy," said Button. "It was just like a lake in places. I was struggling all the way and the tyres were shuddering because I couldn't get temperature into them. Just finishing this race was an achievement because the car was trying to go off the road every lap."I felt like I was really slow trying to miss every river, and the position of these ­rivers was changing every lap. We've had wet races before but I didn't expect so much aquaplaning everywhere – in the corners, down the straight. There was nothing you could do; it was scary."Vettel started from pole and the first eight laps were run behind the safety car as drivers became accustomed to the conditions. "That was the right decision," said Vettel. "There was a hell of a lot of water and it was very difficult just keeping the car on the circuit throughout the whole race. The last corner of the lap is uphill and there was water flowing down it. You had no control, so you daren't touch the brakes or downshift [through the gears] in case you upset the car. It was impossible to know when other cars were near you. You could have run that race without mirrors because they were ­useless: you couldn't see a thing."After spinning and running wide four times, Lewis Hamilton brought his McLaren into sixth place and three championship points. "It was very, very difficult out there," said Hamilton. "I was pushing hard and hoping for the best but I made too many mistakes. It was incredibly tough – almost too dangerous to drive. I've had good wet races but this one was incredibly tough, particularly with this car. I was pushing beyond its limits. It was fun in the beginning when I had some grip but then I seemed to destroy my tyres very early on and I was aquaplaning all over the place. I'm glad I got some points for the team at the end of this."Formula oneJenson ButtonLewis HamiltonMotor sportMcLarenBrawnguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Chinese GP Review: Williams

Rain continued to play a part in this year’s World Championship as today’s Chinese Grand Prix played out under steady rainfall creating difficult conditions for the drivers and a host of cars falling off the race track throughout the 56 laps.

CHinese GP qualifying debriefs: Ferrari, Force India

One car in the top ten, another on row seven: that was the outcome of qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro. Kimi Raikkonen was eighth fastest in Q3, while Felipe was eliminated when in thirteenth place at the end of Q2.

Chinese GP qualifying debriefs: Brawn, Toro Rosso

Brawn GP's Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button qualified in fourth and fifth positions for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix after a closely-fought qualifying hour at the Shanghai International Circuit today.