Rosberg claims first career win in Formula One

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Published time: April 15, 2012 10:15
Edited time: April 15, 2012 16:11

Pole-sitter Nico Rosberg of Mercedes has won the Chinese Grand Prix for his first career Formula One victory.The British duo Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton of McLaren completed the remaining two podium places.

The 25 year old German won by a massive 20.6 seconds over Button after making just two pits stops and managing to endure to the finish on worn tires.

“It's an unbelievable feeling,” Rosberg said minutes after the race. “It's really nice to see how quickly we are now progressing. We didn't expect to be that fast today.”

Button's teammate Lewis Hamilton was third, meaning he is now leading in the driver standings with 45 points, two ahead of Button in second. The 2-3 finish also increased McLaren’s lead in the constructor standings.

Hamilton was followed by Red Bull duo Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel. The defending champion started 11th on the grid and at one stage moved up to second, but couldn't hold off Button, Hamilton and Webber late in the race.

Meanwhile, Rosberg's teammate, seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who started second, had to retire from the race on lap 13 after his right front wheel wasn't fitted properly during his first pit stop.

Elsewhere, Russia’s Vitaly Petrov of Caterham improved just two positions during the race to settle for 18th in the final standings.