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Two Formula 1 Finns on the podium after Shanghai GP

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas took second place and Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen came in third in Sunday's action-packed Formula 1 race in China.

Kimi Räikkönen, Valtteri Bottas
Kimi Räikkönen and Valtteri Bottas Image: AOP

Australia's Daniel Ricciardo, driving for Red Bull, pulled off a dramatic win on Sunday in the Shanghai Grand Prix Formula One race. Behind him came two Finns: Valtteri Bottas representing Mercedes and Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen.

Sebastian Vettel started the race in the lead, blocking his team mate Räikkönen aggressively, which caused the Finn to fall to fourth place.

Bottas jumped into first position after the Mercedes team made a pit stop before Ferrari. A delayed pit stop for Räikkönen meant he lost two positions and fell to sixth place.

The race was upset just over the halfway mark when Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly rear-ended his team mate Brendon Hartley. A safety car entered the track and Red Bull decided to change the tyres on both of its cars, a move that handed Ricciardo the lead. His team mate Max Verstappen then almost collided with Lewis Hamilton, only to drive into Sebastian Vettel, who was in third place at the time.

Räikkönen used the crash to his advantage, passing Verstappen, Vettel and Hamilton in one full sweep. The Finn stayed hot on the tail of his compatriot Bottas until the race's end, but was unable to make a move to pass him successfully.

Vettel and Mercedes still in the lead overall

The result tightens up the drivers' championship, with Vettel's lead narrowed to nine points over Hamilton. Mercedes now have a one-point advantage over Ferrari, with Red Bull moving into a clear third place.

Born in Nastola, Finland, Valtteri Bottas is a 28-year-old Formula 1 driver for Mercedes. He finished his 2017 season with a pole position win and fastest lap in Abu Dhabi.

38-year-old Kimi Räikkönen is originally from Espoo. He has competed as a Formula 1 driver for 16 years. He won the World Championship in 2007, in his first stint with Ferrari. In 2009 Forbes magazine listed Räikkönen as the second highest-paid athlete in the world, behind Tiger Woods.