RACE 1000

The 1000th Grand Prix took place at the Shanghai Circuit in China for what ended up being a what some might call a 'standard' race with Mercedes dominating from start to finish with Ferrari just not quite quick enough to fight for the victory. This was the 90th race victory for Mercedes as a constructor and a 75th career win for Lewis Hamilton (who also won the 900th Grand Prix).

Bottas started on pole alongside eventual race winner and teammate Hamilton with the two Ferrari's behind them in third and fourth respectively. However due to a poor start Hamilton was able to pass Bottas into the first corner and simply did what the multiple world champion does best and that is dominate from from the front.

Multiple drivers wanted the extra point from fastest lap with Bottas holding it for the longest when eventually Vettel stole the point up until the last lap where Red Bull's Pierre Gasly stole the point with a blistering lap. This will have boosted Gasly's confidence having had a poor start to life at Red Bull after leaving Toro Rosso last season.

The drama began (and sort of ended on lap one) with Kvyat (Toro Rosso) collided with the McLaren on Norris who ended on two wheels for a brief second.

The top FIVE finished:

1. Hamilton

2. Bottas

3. Vettel (first podium of 2019)

4. Verstappen

5. Leclerc

The non-finishers include:

Norris / Hulkenberg and Kvyat.