Chinese Grand Prix 2013 - Race Schedule and Countdown

Fernando Alonso mastered tricky conditions at Shanghai to claim Ferrari's first victory of 2013, leading home Kimi Raikkonen and Lewis Hamilton. Starting from third behind Hamilton's pole-sitting Mercedes, Alonso executed a brilliant strategic race with perfectly-timed pit stops and exceptional tire management. The Spaniard's victory demonstrated Ferrari's development progress and his ability to extract maximum performance from a car that lacked the ultimate pace of the Red Bull.

The race featured intense battles throughout the field as drivers navigated varying grip levels and tire degradation. Hamilton led from pole but couldn't match Alonso's race pace, ultimately settling for third behind Raikkonen who continued his strong early-season form. Vettel's championship lead was trimmed as he could only manage fourth, though he recorded the fastest lap showing Red Bull's underlying speed.

Alonso's win kept the championship battle alive and demonstrated that Ferrari remained in contention despite Red Bull's apparent advantage. The victory was particularly satisfying for the Scuderia faithful, coming on the track where Alonso had previously won in 2005 and 2013. The result meant three different winners from the opening three races, though Red Bull's dominance would soon become apparent as the European season approached.