SHANGHAI, April 18 (UPI) -- Jenson Button collected his second Formula One win of the season Sunday, edging McLaren-Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Button, last year's driving champion, took the lead in the 56-lap race on the 19th lap and battled through rainy conditions for the win. He also won the March 28 Australian Grand Prix and has nine Formula One victories, six of which came last year.
Button made just two pit stops in Sunday's race when most cars had twice that on the road course in Shanghai. He finished 1.5 seconds ahead of Hamilton with Nico Rosberg, driving a Mercedes GP, third 9.4 seconds off Button's pace.
Button's crew reacted to the weather and switched to intermediate rain tires on Lap 37. He pushed his lead to nearly 10 seconds on Hamilton but, as the tires became worn, Button made a mistake on the hairpin turn on the 51st lap. That helped Hamilton close most of the difference but Button was able to hang on for the victory.
Button owns a 10-point lead over Rosberg in the drivers' standings with Fernando Alonso, who was fourth Sunday, and Hamilton one points back of Rosberg.
