Flawless Leclerc dominates Virtual China Grand Prix

Charles Leclerc enjoyed a lights-to-flag win in Shanghai on Sunday, the Ferrari driver collecting his second consecutive triumph in Formula 1's Virtual Grand Prix series.

While it was a clear-cut performance from Leclerc, runner-up Alex Albon was never far behind, the Red Bull charger - who also started on the front row - snapping at the Monegasque's heels at the outset of the 29-lap race and briefly taking the lead during the mandator pit stop rotations.

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In the end however, Albon took the checkered flag 2.5s behind his rival.

Virtual Bahrain GP winner and local hero Guanyu Zhou secured the final spot on the podium thanks to a five-second penalty handed to Stoffel Vandoorne and which demoted the Mercedes driver to fifth.

Williams George Russell, who had initially qualified second but was forced to start fifth because of a penalty for blocking in qualifying, clocked in fourth.

The Briton had opted for an out-of-sync strategy relative to his rivals, pitting after just three laps to take on a set of hard tyres, a choice that put him on a charge in the closing stages of the event.  Esteban Gutierrez rounded off the top six.

Virtual GP debutant Carlos Sainz finished just outside the top-ten for his online debut, but the Spaniard's race was undermined by a first lap crash, while technical issues dogged his McLaren teammate Lando Norris who failed to complete a single lap in Shanghai.

A special mention goes to Alfa's Juan Manuel Correa, another Virtual GP rookie, who held off Real Madrid goalie Thibuat Courtois for P14.

Shortly after the race was finished, Leclerc tweeted his satisfaction with a job well done while lamenting the underwhelming post-race celebrations.

"I'm actually enjoying very much playing, and streaming," he wrote. "And I enjoy it even more when I win. But the post race celebrations are somehow feeling a bit different.

"Switching off the computer and go cook white pasta is a bit less glamour than spraying champagne on the podium."

But look at the bright side Charles, no tiring post-race media duties!

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