Senna v Prost, take two

Jenson Button's second victory of the season at the Chinese Grand Prix was a triumph of composure over the spirited display of team-mate Lewis Hamilton. In the first British one-two since David Coulthard and Eddie Irvine at the Austrian Grand Prix 11 years ago, Jonathan McEvoy in The Daily Mail compares the ying and the yang of the McLaren pairing to that of Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna.

There was one British driver who illuminated a bewitching Chinese Grand Prix with his now-you-see-me-now-you don’t rampage. And then there was the Briton who won it by stealth.

This was a race of extremes: Lewis Hamilton, all blood and guts, in second place. Jenson Button, clean and composed, victorious for the second time this season to go top of the drivers’ standings. It was Hamilton’s Senna against Button’s Prost; Botham versus Boycott; Rooney versus Lampard.

But as well as the two McLaren world champions bringing their own contradictory fascination, we were treated to rain, spins, a jump-start, safety cars, reprimands and a lamentably age-ravaged performance from the great — and that word is not misplaced — the great Michael Schumacher.

Button evidently felt surefooted enough shod as he was, and sensed the rain would not come down hard. It did not, at least for a while. In fact, Hamilton was in again three laps later to revert to slicks. His ins-and outs relegated him from the top 10 while Button was ensconced in second spot behind Nico Rosberg’s Mercedes. ‘It was tricky out there but we called it right,’ said Button.

‘It’s not just about being quick; it’s about reading the conditions.’ Was that a dig at Lewis, by any chance?

Now to the runner-up. He zoomed past his rivals and then, when various pit stops caused him to fall back again, did it all over again. It prompted the question: is there a more exhilarating competitor in all sport than Hamilton on the charge? He had started sixth, one place behind Button.

But before the thrills came a spill. Well, nearly. He veered perilously close to sliding off entering the pits on his first of four stops — compared to Button’s two — at the gravel trap which wrecked his title hopes in 2007. Next came his wheel-to-wheel entry to the pits with Sebastian Vettel, who started on pole but suffered a terrible start. They sparred again on the way out.

Hamilton, who had driven with his heart, had lost out to Button, driving with his head. It was the same in Melbourne last month, when Button’s immaculate tyre choice won out over his confrere’s blasting approach.

Hamilton, 11 points off the summit, was weak-voiced with disappointment afterwards. Asked if it was a fantastic race, he said: ‘Maybe for you it was. I just felt that every time I made a place, I lost it. It was very, very hard. But to climb my way to second was great. Jenson made the right choice on his tyres; I didn’t.’