Raikkonen wins Chinese GP

Britain8217;s Hamilton still leads with 107 points from Alonso8217;s 103 with Raikkonen on 100 points after his fifth victory of the season for Ferrari, which was their 200th win overall. Hamilton, 22, looked on course to become the first rookie and the youngest driver in history to win the world championship until it all went wrong on lap 31 of the 56-lap race.

The championship pacesetter went into the pits for a badly-needed change of tyres but could not stop himself sliding into the gravel at the side of the track. It was his first retirement of the season, yet Hamilton remained defiant.

8220;I8217;m sorry for the team but I can still do it, don8217;t worry,8221; he said. 8220;When I got out of the car I was just gutted because it was my first mistake all year and to do it on the way into the pits was not something I usually do. You cannot go through life without making mistakes. But I am over it and we look forward to Brazil. The team will be working hard to make sure the car is quick enough there, and we still have points in the bag.8221;