Summary Nico Rosberg stormed to victory in a chaotic Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday.
SHANGHAI (AFP) - Nico Rosberg stormed to victory in a chaotic Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, methodically completing a hat-trick of wins to extend his perfect start to the 2016 Formula One season.
The German s Mercedes was jumped at the start by Daniel Ricciardo. But after avoiding the first-corner mayhem unfolding behind the front two, he quickly caught the Red Bull and romped home to win by a whopping 38 seconds from Ferrari s Sebastian Vettel.
Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton began from the back of the Shanghai grid after a mechanical failure on his Mercedes sabotaged qualifying for the Briton on Saturday. But he roared back to take seventh, despite pitting early to replace a damaged front wing.
"It s too early to make any premature conclusions," insisted Rosberg after stretching his championship lead to 36 points. "Lewis is not many points behind -- 30 points is not much, it s a race and a bit and he will never give up."
Ferrari s wretched fortunes continued after Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen collided at the first turn, allowing Daniil Kvyat s Red Bull to slip past into third, which is where the Russian finished.
Vettel carved his way back through the field from 15th but blamed Kvyat for driving "like a madman" in a furious rant over the team radio.
"Kvyat s attack was suicidal," fumed the German, who was still squabbling with Kvyat as Rosberg made his victory speech.
"You came in like a torpedo!" Vettel barked at Kvyat before they stepped out to the podium, to which Kvyat shrugged: "That s racing."
The four-time world champion admitted he was fortunate even to finish the race.
"I was very lucky to continue," said Vettel. "It was a big hit with Kimi. I feel very sorry for Kimi but I was a bit in a sandwich between Kimi and Daniil and there was nothing I could do."
Rosberg rammed home his advantage with a superb drive, becoming only the fourth driver to win six consecutive races -- joining Vettel (nine), Alberto Ascari (seven) and Michael Schumacher (six) -- after winning the last three of 2015.
Rosberg s 17th career victory underlined how far momentum has shifted since Hamilton captured his third world title in Texas last October -- the last time he won a grand prix.
Hamilton last started a race from the back of the grid in Hungary two years ago when he stormed back to take third.
After an engine change, Hamilton made a brave attempt to repeat his 2014 heroics but lightning never looked like striking twice, especially after he mangled his front wing in the early skirmishes.
"It s not a great feeling," admitted Hamilton. "But I can take some positives from the race: I got a good start, finally -- from dead last. I know we will recover from this at some point."
Rosberg, though, was unstoppable once he had blown past Ricciardo at the exact moment the Australian s left rear tyre shredded off and landed in strips on the track, bringing out the safety car to throw Hamilton and Raikkonen a lifeline after their troubled starts.
Ricciardo finished a creditable fourth after recovering from his puncture with a swashbuckling drive, while Raikkonen fought back for fifth with Felipe Massa s Williams sixth in front of Hamilton.
