With all the hype leading up to the race, you’d have been forgiven for assuming it was going to be an easy win and therefore a world title for Lewis Hamilton in Shanghai. But as ever in F1, nothing is guaranteed and Hamilton has learnt the lesson today.

Leading from the start and pulling out a 9 second gap over Raikkonnen, it was all looking good. Alonso was making no impression in 4th behind Massa.

The changeable conditions made it very difficult for the drivers all afternoon, but as the track started to really dry up and Hamilton struggled on his bald intermediate tyres, disaster struck.

Lewis fell into the clutches of Raikkonnenafter running wide at one of the corners and the gap back to Alonso fell dramatically. With seemingly the canvas of the rear tyre showing, a pit stop had to be made and as the Britain came into the put lane, tried to turn left, he slid off the road and into the small gravel trap on the exit – beached.

Lewis spun the wheels and tried getting a push from the marshals, but it was all over.

The race settled after this and some surprise finishing positions were to follow. Vettel, Button and Liuzzi all finished in the points on a good afternoons racing.