Lewis Hamilton wins Chinese Grand Prix

SHANGHAI: Lewis Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix comfortably ahead of his team-mate Nico Rosberg Sunday as Mercedes tightened their grip on the season with their third one-two finish in a row.

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The British former world champion got away smoothly from pole position and finished 19 seconds ahead of Rosberg, with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso third in front of the two Red Bulls.

Despite winning three races in a row for the first time in his career, Hamilton still trails Rosberg by four points in the title race as he seeks his second world championship.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo held off his team-mate and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel for fourth spot with the Force India of Nico Hulkenberg coming home in sixth.

"I can't believe how amazing the car is. I was able to look after the tyres and then I was racing myself," said Hamilton on the podium after the race.

"I'm really happy Nico's up here with us. It's great points for the team."

In dry conditions, Hamilton got away cleanly from pole position at the start and by lap six he already had a four-second cushion on the field.

Behind him Vettel moved up from third past his team-mate Ricciardo, as did Alonso who got a flying start in the Ferrari.

The early drama came behind as Felipe Massa in the Williams dived past Nico Rosberg's Mercedes and banged his left rear wheel against Alonso's car.

Rosberg, seemingly mesmerised by Massa's overtaking manoeuvre, then touched wheels with the other Williams of Valtteri Bottas on his outside but came through unscathed.

It took Rosberg two laps to get back past Massa and when the first round of pit stops began on lap 12, the Williams crew could not remove Massa's damaged rear left.

By the time they finally replaced it, Massa had been relegated to last place and the Brazilian eventually finished way down in 15th.

Alonso stopped a lap earlier than Vettel in what proved a masterstroke as, with his rubber up to race temperature sooner, he got past the four-time world champion.

Ricciardo pitted after 15 laps, dropping him behind Rosberg. Rosberg and Vettel became engaged in a wheel-to-wheel battle for third place on lap 23 from which the Mercedes driver emerged in front.

Their fight enable Ricciardo to close on his team-mate and Vettel was asked to move over, as he had in Bahrain, to let the quicker Ricciardo through.

But Vettel this time was having none of it. "Tough luck," he said of Ricciardo's position over team radio, and he defended his fourth place only to be passed a couple of laps later.

By lap 33 of the 56 Rosberg had Alonso in his sights and was told to "push hard" to catch the Spaniard over team radio.

Alonso responded by pitting, leaving the familiar sight of two Mercedes at the head of the field for the third race in a row until Rosberg himself stopped for a second time.

Vettel was having a frustrating afternoon and with badly grained tyres suffered the ignominy of at one point being passed by the Caterham of Kamui Kobayashi, much to the Red Bull driver's disgust.

Hamilton made his second and final stop on lap 38 and emerged from the pit lane with a 13-second cushion over Alonso.

Rosberg was flying, however, and after setting the fastest lap he re-took second place by easily passing Alonso on a straight.

With four races out of 19 gone, Mercedes already have a stranglehold on the constructors' standings with 154 points, 97 more than second-placed Red Bull.

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Ecclestone faces German bribery trial

LONDON: Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone goes on trial for bribery in Germany this week in a case that threatens to end the Briton's long reign as the commercial boss of the motor sport.

Prosecutors in Munich have charged Ecclestone, 83, with bribing jailed former German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to smooth the sale eight years ago of a stake in Formula One to private equity firm CVC.

CVC remain the largest shareholder in Formula One, a business that generates annual revenues of over $1.5 billion from its series of Grand Prix races held around the world.

CVC co-chairman Donald Mackenzie has said that he would fire Ecclestone if he was found guilty of wrongdoing.

Ecclestone, a former used car salesman who became a billionaire by building the sport into a global money spinner over the past four decades, denies wrongdoing and says he will fight to clear his name.

He could face up to 10 years in jail if convicted.

The case opens in Munich on Thursday but hearings will be held only once or twice a week to allow Ecclestone to carry on the day-to-day running of the motor sport. It is scheduled to last at least until September.

Despite his age, Ecclestone attends almost every Grand Prix and remains central to the sport's commercial success. He has always dismissed talk of retirement and there is no obvious replacement when he does finally quit or is forced out.

The uncertainty over Ecclestone's future is one of the factors that make it hard to revisit stalled efforts to launch an initial public offering of Formula One after a planned listing in Singapore was abandoned because of turbulent markets two years ago.

CVC DEAL

CVC paid around $830 million to buy a 47 percent stake in Formula One held by German bank BayernLB from 2002-06.

Prosecutors allege that Ecclestone channelled $44 million to Gribkowsky, chief risk officer at BayernLB, for having helped to ensure that CVC took control of the sport rather than any rival bidder.

They argue that Ecclestone favoured CVC because it was committed to keeping him on as chief executive.

Gribkowsky, who is expected to give evidence in this trial, was jailed for more than eight years by a Munich court in 2012 for tax evasion and corruption in relation to the payments.

Ecclestone has said he paid Gribkowsky $10 million but says that this was designed to silence the German banker who was threatening to make false claims about his tax affairs. Ecclestone denies the payments were linked to the CVC deal.

The arguments were rehearsed in a civil case in London late last year when Ecclestone successfully defended a separate $100 million damages claim over allegations he undervalued the business when it was sold to CVC.

Although he dismissed the damages claim, British judge Guy Newey said he believed the payments from Ecclestone were a bribe and added that he found it impossible to regard him as a reliable or truthful witness.

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Joshna Chinappa wins Richmond Open

RICHMOND: Joshna Chinappa of India ended a career-long losing run to Australia's former world champion Rachael Grinham when she upset the top seed in straight games to win the inaugural $10,000 Richmond Open.

World No.21 Chinappa beat her 16th-ranked opponent 11-9, 11-5, 11-8 for the first time in six meetings to bag her ninth Women's Squash Association (WSA) tour title at the Country Club of Virginia on Saturday.

With the victory, Chinappa also avenged her defeat of the Texas Open last week when she lost to the 37-year-old Australian in just 24 minutes.

For Grinham, it was the 65th final appearance since making her first tour final back in March 1998 while it was the 16th final for the Indian.

Tournament spokesman Kristen Lange narrated the final. "Starting the first game, Grinham came out swinging, firing her way to a 6-2 lead - however Chinappa surged back through consistent play to level the game off at 6-6," Lange said.

"From here it was a battle to 11, with the lead oscillating between the two players until a couple unfortunate mistakes gave Chinappa the first game," he said.

Chinappa dominated the second game before Grinham fought back in the third.

"The start of the third game was once again all Chinappa as she quickly sailed to an 8-2 lead. Never one to be counted out Grinham fought her way back to 8-8, however it was a case of too little too late as Grinham made three critical errors to give Joshana her first win over the courageous Australian," Lange added.

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Suarez reaches historic 30-goal mark

NORWICH: Luis Suarez scored his 30th Premier League goal of the season at Norwich City on Sunday, becoming the first Liverpool player to achieve the feat since Ian Rush in 1987.

EPL Top Scorers

After giving Liverpool an early lead, Raheem Sterling teed up Suarez to steer home an 11th-minute shot that saw the Uruguayan register his 12th goal in his last five appearances against Norwich.

Another goal from Sterling gave Liverpool a 3-2 victory that took them five points clear at the top of the league table with three matches remaining.

Suarez is now one goal short of the record goal tally for a 38-game Premier League season, which is jointly held by Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo.

"It is important for myself, but my target is to help the team every time. We are on the top now and we enjoy that," he told Sky Sports.

"Of course we are happy because those three points are important for us and we worked really hard today against Norwich.

"Every time they are difficult (to play) and they are fighting not to go down, and we know that."

Liverpool can now eliminate second-place Chelsea from the title race by beating them at Anfield next weekend, but Suarez remains cautious about his side's chances of claiming a first league title in 24 years.

"In football, you never know what will happen," he said. "We will keep calm and focus on the next game against Chelsea."

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Liverpool edge Norwich to close on title

LONDON: Liverpool took another step towards a first league title since 1990 after winning 3-2 at Norwich City on Sunday to pull five points clear in the Premier League.

EPL: Results | Points Table | Topscorers

Quick-fire early goals from Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez put the visitors in control at Carrow Road, before Gary Hooper replied for fourth-bottom Norwich in the 54th minute.

Sterling appeared to have made the points safe with a deflected shot minutes later, but a late Robert Snodgrass header obliged Liverpool to endure a nervy last 10 minutes.

It was Liverpool's 11th consecutive league victory and means that they are guaranteed to qualify for next season's Champions League, but Brendan Rodgers's side now have a bigger prize in their sights.

They need seven points from their remaining three games to win the league and can eliminate Chelsea from the title race by winning at home to Jose Mourinho's side next weekend.

Chelsea's shock 2-1 defeat at home to Sunderland on Saturday, coupled with Manchester City's draw against the same side in mid-week, had given Liverpool a huge opportunity to stamp their authority on the title race.

Rodgers was without the injured Daniel Sturridge and the suspended Jordan Henderson, but his side swiftly set about settling their supporters' nerves by taking the lead in the fourth minute.

Sterling collected the ball 30 yards from goal, shifted it inside Bradley Johnson, and then unleashed a 25-yard drive that flew inside the left-hand post via a slight deflection off Michael Turner.

After Norwich goalkeeper John Ruddy had saved from Joe Allen, Suarez made it 2-0 in the 11th minute, steering a delightfully weighted left-foot cross from Sterling into the bottom-right corner.

It was the Uruguayan's 12th goal in his last five appearances against Norwich and made him the first Liverpool striker to score 30 league goals in a season since Ian Rush in 1987.

Norwich began to assert themselves, however, and nine minutes into the second half they pulled a goal back.

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet met Steven Whittaker's deep cross with a weak punch that bounced off Martin Skrtel and into the path of Hooper, who tapped into the unguarded goal.

Momentarily Liverpool looked vulnerable, but in the 62nd minute Sterling restored their two goal-advantage.

After picking up the ball inside his own half, the 19-year-old drove into the Norwich box and dispatched a left-foot shot that took a cruel deflection off Johnson and looped over Ruddy.

Snodgrass hit back for Norwich in the 77th minute, outjumping Jon Flanagan to head home Martin Olsson's left-wing cross, but Liverpool held on for victory.

Later on Sunday, attention will switch to the battle to secure Champions League qualification, with fourth-place Arsenal visiting Hull City before fifth-place Everton host Manchester United.

Arsenal have a one-point lead over Everton in the fourth and final qualifying berth ahead of their trip to Hull, who they will also meet in the FA Cup final on May 17.

United's game at Everton, meanwhile, will see David Moyes return to Goodison Park for the first time since leaving the club to succeed Alex Ferguson as manager at Old Trafford last year.

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'I'd have more fame if I wasn't African'

MANCHESTER: Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, one of six nominees for the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) player of the year award, says he would have more global recognition if he was not from Africa.

The talismanic Ivory Coast international believes he and Africans like compatriot Didier Drogba (Galatasaray) and Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o (Chelsea) would be more appreciated around the world but for their heritage.

City team mate Samir Nasri suggested last month that it would be a different story for Toure if he had been born in Europe or South America.

"I think what Samir was saying was definitely true," Toure told the BBC's Football Focus TV programme. "To be honest proper recognition has only come from the fans.

"I don't want to be hard and I don't want to be negative but I want to be honest."

Toure has won domestic titles in Ivory Coast, Greece, Spain and England and the 2009 Champions League with Barcelona but said that despite his success he was not as well known as Barcelona's Lionel Messi or Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo.

"If you go to any part of Africa now people will say, 'yes, we know him (Messi)' but when you come to Europe and say 'Yaya Toure' people will say, 'who is that?'," he added.

"Some will say they know my name but not know my face. But they will know Messi's face.

"I am very proud to be African. I want to defend African people and I want to show to the world that African players can be as good as the Europeans and South Americans," said Toure.

The Ivorian has scored 18 Premier League goals for third-placed City this season but will miss Monday's home game with West Bromwich Albion through injury.

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Vettel admits Ricciardo doing better job

SHANGHAI: Sebastian Vettel admitted he needs to raise his game after Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo on Saturday again out-qualified the four-time world champion at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Ricciardo was no match for pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton, who was fastest by almost six-tenths of a second, but he put himself ahead of Vettel by qualifying on the front row for the second time this season, with the German third.

Ricciardo was also comfortably quicker than Vettel in all three practice sessions for Sunday's race and he has now been Red Bull's fastest qualifier in three out of four grands prix this season.

Vettel said he had no excuses as both drivers have the same car, and that Ricciardo, in his first season with Red Bull, has simply been performing better than the reigning champion.

"I think Daniel is doing a very good job, he has not just had one good weekend, he had good weekends, and so far he seems to be able to get the maximum out of the car," said Vettel.

"On my side, maybe I'm struggling a little bit more, but at the end of the day we have the same car.

"There's nothing between cars, so if he manages to beat me, then he beats me on the circuit, fair and square."

Vettel, who won nine races in a row to close out his fourth successive championship in 2013, is not used to coming second to anyone, let alone his own team-mate. Neither is he happy about it.

"Of course, that's not to my liking but equally, I know that I have to do a little bit better," he said.

The affable Ricciardo, 24, is hoping to bounce back from this week's failed appeal against his disqualification from second in Australia over a technical infringement.

And he was clearly looking forward to trying to rein in the Mercedes of Hamilton, and keep Vettel behind him.

"Looking forward to tomorrow. If it's dry I think we can race up the front," said Ricciardo.

"I'll be ducking my head down the straight, like in a go-kart but yeah, we'll hopefully hang on and fight for at least a podium I hope."

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Martino takes blame for Barcelona fall

BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has defended Lionel Messi from criticism for his erratic play during three consecutive losses, while acknowledging he wasn't "satisfied" with his own coaching performance.

In the past two weeks, Barcelona has been eliminated from the Champions League by Atletico Madrid, lost the Copa del Rey final to rival Real Madrid, and fallen behind in third place in the league.

Martino dismissed media speculation that Messi's mini-dip in form might lead to his departure at the end of the season.

"That people are talking about Messi's future surprises us, I don't take those comments seriously," Martino said Saturday. "A football player, when he finds himself in these types of circumstances, focuses on the game. Sometimes they can play better or worse, but since it is (Messi) everything is overblown. His future must be in Barcelona until he stops playing."

Martino is approaching the end of a tumultuous first year of a two-year contract. It is widely expected that he will be fired this summer, unless Barcelona can pull off an unlikely recovery to overtake league leader Atletico and Madrid.

Martino accepted his responsibility for the team's sudden decline, which will likely leave the Catalans without a major trophy for the first time since the 2007-08 season.

"I am not satisfied with my job done," the Argentine said. "When you don't get results, you can't be satisfied. This team is accustomed to winning and, leaving aside the Spanish Super Cup, to have no chances in two competitions and almost none in the third means I can take nothing positive from my performance."

Barcelona hosts Athletic Bilbao on Sunday needing to win to stay within four points of Atletico as the season nears its end. It will be without the injured Neymar, Jordi Alba, Gerard Pique and Victor Valdes, while Sergio Busquets is suspended.

Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde has been rumored to be a possible replacement for Martino if he is let go.

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Wawrinka downs Ferrer to reach final

MONTE CARLO: Third seed Stanislas Wawrinka produced a ruthless display to beat Spain's David Ferrer 6-1, 7-6 (3) on Saturday to reach the Monte Carlo Masters final.

Australian Open champion Wawrinka, who next faces fellow Swiss Roger Federer or Serb Novak Djokovic, raced through the first set and kept his composure in the second when his opponent raised his level.

Sixth seed Ferrer, who knocked out eight-time French Open champion and world number one Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals on Friday, was on the back foot throughout.

"It was the perfect start for me. I played very well in spite of the wind," Wawrinka told Canal Plus TV.

"He changed tactics in the second set, being more aggressive, and I became more hesitant but I played tougher then."

Wawrinka quickly opened a 5-0 lead after breaking twice with a passing shot and a forehand return winner.

The Swiss, looking to win his first Masters 1000 title, sealed the opening set with a stunning backhand winner down the line.

Ferrer saved a break point in the opening game of the second set but Wawrinka, whose 31 winners made up for 40 unforced errors, accelerated again in the tiebreak and prevailed on his second match point when his opponent netted a backhand.

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Federer ousts ailing Djokovic in semis

MONTE CARLO: Roger Federer beat an injured Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-2 to set up an all-Swiss Monte Carlo Masters final with Stanislas Wawrinka after the Australian Open champion ousted David Ferrer 6-1 7-6 (3) on Saturday.

Holder Djokovic resisted for one set before pain in his right wrist was just too much to bear for the second-seeded Serb who bowed out on the first match point after one hour 14 minutes.

The much-awaited clash lived up to expectations early on, with 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer saving two set points on serve at 5-4.

Federer, who has never won the Monte Carlo Masters, broke in the following game and pocketed the set with an ace before Djokovic went to his chair holding his right wrist.

The second set was a stroll for the Swiss who produced a series of forehand winners as he moved 18-16 up in his head-to-head record against Djokovic.

Earlier, third seed Wawrinka showed no mercy against the giant-killing Ferrer.

The Swiss raced through the first set and kept his composure in the second when the Spaniard raised his level.

Sixth seed Ferrer, who knocked out eight-times French Open champion and world number one Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals on Friday, was on the back foot throughout.

"It was the perfect start for me. I played very well in spite of the wind," Wawrinka told Canal Plus TV.

"He changed tactics in the second set, being more aggressive, and I became more hesitant but I played tougher then."

Wawrinka quickly opened a 5-0 lead after breaking twice with a passing shot and a forehand return winner.

The Swiss, looking to win his first Masters 1000 title, sealed the opening set with a stunning backhand winner down the line.

Ferrer saved a break point in the opening game of the second set but Wawrinka, whose 31 winners made up for 40 unforced errors, accelerated again in the tiebreak and prevailed on his second match point when his opponent netted a backhand.

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