Lewis Hamilton helped Mercedes reassert their authority over Ferrari by leading team-mate Nico Rosberg in a dominant display for the German outfit at the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday.

The race had a slightly anti-climatic feel to its conclusion as the cars crossed the line behind a safety car but Hamilton controlled events from the front and always looked good value for his 35th career win and record-extending fourth in China.

After stunning Mercedes with a brilliant victory in Malaysia at the end of March, Sebastian Vettel threatened early in his Ferrari but once the cars were fitted with the medium-compound tyres for the final stint, the German’s challenge faded.

A third podium in as many races since joining from Red Bull was still a great result and he would have been the most relieved when Max Verstappen’s engine failure brought out the safety car as his fast-finishing team mate Kimi Raikkonen was looming large in his wing mirrors.

Hamilton’s second win in three races allowed him to extend his lead at the top of the championship standings, the Briton moving on to 68 points with Vettel on 55 and Rosberg a further four points adrift.

Hamilton had aggressively angled his car towards the inside on the grid to cover any attack from fellow front-row occupier Rosberg and once the lights went out, the Briton surged ahead of his team mate on the run to Turn One.

Vettel protected third behind the two Mercedes but Raikkonen, who was left ruing another missed opportunity after qualifying sixth, surged past Williams’ Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas off the line to slot into fourth.

McLaren continued their early season struggles with Fernando Alonso finishing a lap down in 13th, ahead of Jenson Button, who damaged his front wing while attempting a late race pass on Pastor Maldonado in the other Lotus.