Jubilant Hamilton praises ‘career-best’ victory

Lewis Hamilton has described his dramatic victory in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix "one of the best I can remember". The Englishman was jubilant after his McLaren team's ambitious three-stop strategy paid off and he took the lead from Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel thanks to a stunning overtaking move with only four laps to go. It was his first Grand Prix victory in over eight months and the 15th of his career.

"I never really knew right to the end I could do it," Hamilton said. "I could not believe I was catching Vettel. He was putting up a great fight and it was great to get by him."

Hamilton got off to the perfect start, overtaking pole-positioned Vettel from the off, before the Red Bull man's two-stop strategy saw him regain the lead. As the race approached its final stages, however, Hamilton's fresher rubber (as a result of his third pit stop) allowed him to mount a late charge.

The decisive moment came when Hamilton caught Vettel unaware on turn seven, magnificently passing the German on the gentle left-hand corner, not known as an obvious passing spot. Commentators are already hailing the move as one of the most impressive in Formula 1 history.

"Sebastian is a great world champion," Hamilton said. "He is very good at defending, he has a great car, good traction and slightly better down-force. I had to take him at a place where he wouldn't expect it."

Hamilton's victory denied Vettel a hat-trick of grand prix wins and moved the Englishman into second position in the driver's championship.

Hamilton's magnificent drive was matched by that of Mark Webber. The Australian Red Bull driver came from 18th on the grid to take third place after overtaking McLaren's Jenson Button on the final lap. ·