Red Bull
Race: Webber
Overall: Vettel 1 vs Webber 1
Obviously a controversial battle, both on track and in terms of awarding the battle point. Vettel gained pole, whilst Webber moved from 5th to 2nd after the first lap. Arguably Webber had the pace to beat Vettel overall, and would have won if not for Sebastian defying team orders during 'tyre-wear saving' to close in and pass. Nevertheless, whilst it was close, the point goes to Webber as a result of this who probably deserved the win.
Ferrari
Race: Massa
Season: Alonso 1 vs Massa 1
An off weekend for the Spanish hero Alonso, whilst he qualified 3rd, Massa qualified 2nd and despite not having the pace he did in Melbourne, at least he didn't have an uncharacteristic collision like Fernando did with Vettel's Red Bull, ultimately leading to his retirement at the start of lap 2. 1 all!
McLaren
Race: Button
Season: Button 2 vs Perez 0
McLaren looked much improved this weekend, especially in the dry. Perez still isn't up to the pace of Jenson both in qualifying and in the race, but it is still early days in his career in a top team. Button looked great and proved his quality, whilst he couldn't hold back Rosberg's Mercedes, he gave him a good defensive battle, and had the pace to easily secure 5th if it weren't for his pit stop wheel woes. Well done to Perez for scoring his first McLaren points nevertheless, putting in a decent and consistent drive.
Lotus
Race: Grosjean
Season: Raikkonen 1 vs Grosjean 1
After his Australian victory, Kimi sat on the naughty step for blocking Rosberg in Q3, taking a 3 place grid penalty to start 10th. This hindered him greatly, after a bad start battled with Nico Hulkenberg for the large majority of the race, leaving it too late to catch Grosjean. Romain looked much improved after a poor opening race, putting in fastest laps towards the start of the race.
Mercedes
Race: Rosberg
Season: Rosberg 1 vs Hamilton 1
A great result for the Mercedes team, and if not for Hamilton's fuel saving could have finished much closer to the Bull's. Hamilton out-qualified Rosberg despite Nico performing better in Q1 and Q2, but in the race Nico deserved the podium finished, only staying behind Lewis due to team orders. He had better race pace which Lewis admitted, and said he felt Nico should be where he was. A nice touch, but surely Mercedes could have let Nico go through on the pit straight. Game on here.
Sauber
Race: Hulkenberg
Season: Hulkenberg 2 vs Gutierrez 0
Hulkenberg's first race of the year held a scrap with Raikkonen, ultimately losing but did a great job to do so for so long, and get 4 points for Sauber. Truly outpacing Gutierrez, who finished over a lap behind, and as of yet doesn't seem as impressive as Perez on his debut.
Force India
Race: di Resta
Season: di Resta 1 vs Sutil 1
A disappointing race for the team, pit stop problems with their wheel guns hindering what had promised to be another similar good result to the last race in Melbourne. di Resta was unlucky in qualifying after being called back in by his team, but was one of the fastest cars on the track until his retirement, and may have ended up fighting between 5th and 8th. Paul purely outpaced Adrian, and needs many more performances like this this year.
Williams
Race: Bottas
Season: Maldonado 0 vs Bottas 2
Another poor performance by Pastor M, going off the track once damaging his front wing, before spinning out for good just like in Australia. Bottas after a poor start ended up in 11th, just behind Vergne's Toro Rosso for the last point. A notable performance and deservedly goes 2-0 in the battle.
Toro Rosso
Race: Vergne
Season: Vergne 2 vs Ricciardo 0
As mentioned Vergne scored the team's first point of the season, whilst Ricciardo joined many on their lap to the grid by going off the track before the race even started, Daniel damaging his diffuser. Vergne still seems to be out-pacing the Aussie in race pace. 2-0 to the Frenchman.
Caterham
Race: Pic
Season: Pic 2 vs van der Garde 0
Pic again showing much more pace than his Dutch teammate, nevertheless both finished ahead of Chilton's Marussia.
Marussia
Race: Bianchi
Season: Bianchi 2 vs Chilton 0
Bianchi finished in 13th, which is a help towards securing 10th in the constructors, whilst Chilton finished disappointingly behind the Caterham's, not as good a performance as in Australia. Jules Bianchi is raising eyebrows, as he qualified just 0.2 seconds off a place in Q2 qualifying as well. At this rate is going to be in a midfield team next year comfortably.
Nick, F1 Hub
Let us know what you think of the teammate battles!
Bring on the Chinese Grand Prix in three weeks!
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