Why are so many surprised that the current world champion, Jenson Button, is winning races with McLaren, and following his victory in China leading the standings after four races? Good guys can and do win.

The 2009 season displayed his driving prowess and such continues this year, but it is Jenson's superior strategic thinking (over Hamilton) that is most apparent this year. Button has demonstrated that he is intent on defending his crown and is not overawed by his new team or team mate Hamilton.

The Chinese race was not scripted for the one-two McLaren finish; with the Red Bull's of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber taking the front row after a great qualifying session, and Button and Hamilton starting in five and sixth it was widely predicted that Vettel would pull away and dominate the race with Alonso starting from third finishing in second.
 
Zeus had not read the script and the rain started as the drivers lined up on the grid on slick tyres: Alonso in third miss-judged the starting lights and accelerated away a few moments precipitately, earning an early lead but a potentially disastrous drive though penalty.  A first corner accident involving Force India's Vitantonio Liuzzi, Virgin's Timo Glock, Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi and Sebastien Buemi in the Toro Rosso, led to the safety car being deployed.

The cars bunched up behind the safety car, and as the rain intensified, many teams pitted their cars for intermediate tyres; however, Button, Rosberg (Mercedes) and Kubica (Renault) stayed out. As the rain subsided, after a couple more laps, those cars on intermediates had to pit again as their tyres quickly deteriorated in the drying conditions. Consequently, Rosberg Button and Kubica built up a 50 seconds lead on the chasing pack.

Vettel and Hamilton raced hard to catch the leaders and continued the contest in the pits by going wheel-to-wheel after they were both released at the same time. Hamilton illustrated his ability and experience in a fabulous overtaking move at turn 14 by cutting inside of Force India's Adrian Sutil and Vettel with a majestic double pass.

Alonso was also driving with incredible intensity, the safety car had help him pick up ground following his penalty, but it was his aggression in over-taking his slower team mate Massa as they both came into the start of the pit road that really illustrated that his racing mentality.  Massa might have felt a little aggrieved by his team mate's tactics but Alonso could not afford to be stuck behind Massa, who was noticeable slower, and is unlikely to care about Massa's feelings or thoughts.

By lap 21, it seemed that the race was won by Jenson Button, who had overtaken Nico Rosberg and was extending his considerable lead. And then; once again in this most unusual race, incident intervened to reset the pack.

Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) had a very small coming together, but his front wing broke and the debris was considered dangerous enough for another safety car to be deployed. The front runners lead was wiped out and Button confessed after the race he realised that it might be 'tricky' to re-establish such a strong position. Button once again showed he was not afraid of controversy by slowing behind the safety car to cause disarray behind him, just before the resumption of normal racing.

Button pulled further ahead of Rosberg, who after pit stopping was relegated to third place behind the charging Hamilton. Button nursed his tyres after his pit stop and despite a mistake at the hairpin never looked in danger of losing the lead.  

Remarkably, Robert Kubica in a Renault came fifth behind Fernando Alonso in fourth. The Red Bull of Vettel a surprising sixth left the team with many more questions after such a promising Saturday qualifying. Webber once more under-performed with the talented Russian Vitaly Petrov overtaking the Australian to earn his first points in Formula 1 with a seventh place finish.

Button's win means he leads the drivers' championship by 10 points.

The 2010 Chinese Grand Prix was dominated by the changeable weather conditions and the teams' response to such, but it was much more than the calculation of pit stops that made the race memorable. The race was notable for the emergence or more properly the confirmation of what we already knew or suspected from the first three races:

Jenson Button is much better than many suggested and is established himself wonderfully at McLaren. He has emerged as the greater power player in the mind games with Hamilton.

Sebastien Vettel is significantly faster and vastly more competent than the hapless and hopeless Mark Webber who continues to find new ways of under-performing. (How much longer can he remain with Red Bull, surly, the team should replace him now)?

Fernando Alonso, despite his unfortunate false start and resulting drive through penalty, was quicker than Massa and is likely to continue to dominate the Brazilian for the rest of the season. He continues to be our favourite to win the title, but must get the number 1 status from Ferrari to ensure that if he is behind Massa, the slower man makes way for the good of the championship.  

Michael Schumacher continues to put a brave face on his struggles, (it must be hard) and Nico Rosberg is a revelation.  The team is doing well to present a united front, but the pressures will be intense to find a solution to Michael's lack of speed without harming Rosberg's changes.

The Renault drivers, Kubica and Petrov, are performing well, and they look set to continue to upset the front runners with some good results.

Spain in three weeks will be fascinating; most teams will update the cars and much will be expected of the top teams, particularly Mercedes. It will not be too early to consider driver changes for next season; Webber is extremely venerable and Massa must be concerned.

The top drivers will know that another win for Button would start to create a difficult point gap, but most will still be more concerned by Alonso at his home Grand Prix.

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