Lewis Hamilton was not the only one overwhelmed by the Chinese Grand Prix. He was joined in that emotion by millions watching on television. After two pole to flag victories for Sebastian Vettel in the Red Bull, few would have predicted anything other than a third successive win by the world champion.

Hamilton does not think in straight lines. For him anything is possible and so it was, that turning on the television mid race on a lazy Sunday morning, the tea pot had to wait. I could not take my eyes off the unfolding drama in Shanghai. Hamilton on three-stopper, chasing down Vettel on a two-stopper.

Someone at Pirelli take a bow. You did a brilliant job coming up with a tyre construction that created one of the great races of recent times. Hamilton was blindingly quick on new rubber, Vettel hanging on in front on ageing tyres. Before he could get after Vettel, Hamilton had to get past his team-mate, Jenson Button, the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Felipe Massa's Ferrari. Move over, baby; storm blowing through.

There is no finer sight in Formula One than Hamilton on the charge. Vettel held him off by slowing through the apex at one corner but could not resist for ever. With four laps remaining Hamilton was heading into clean air and the chequered flag for the first time this season.

Vettel's team-mate Mark Webber showed in burning through the field form 18th to third what might have been had the team chosen the same strategy for the championship leader, but that is not Hamilton's problem. Last week in Malaysia the headaches were all his, finishing down in eighth spot. Now McLaren have three weeks to take some more time out of that fearsome Red Bull before the teams line up again for race four in Turkey.

Still think F1 is boring with no overtaking? You can always walk the dog when the lights go out in Istanbul. Ha.