A dominant Fernando Alonso won his first race of the season at the Chinese Grand Prix.

The Ferrari star, who had started third, passed Kimi Raikkonen and pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton within the first five laps to set up a crucial victory.

Lotus' Raikkonen and Mercedes' Hamilton completed the podium, halting off a late charge from Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel still tops the Driver's Championship but Raikkonen has cut his lead at the top to three points, with Alonso climbing to third, six points further back.

Lewis Hamilton's third place puts him fourth in the title race, 12 points behind Vettel.

His former team-mate Jenson Button had an encouraging race for McLaren with a fifth place finish ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

Result

1 Fernando Alonso - Ferrari

2 Kimi Raikkonen - Lotus

3 Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes

4 Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull

5 Jenson Button - McLaren

6 Felipe Massa - Ferrari

7 Daniel Ricciardo - Toro Rosso

8 Paul Di Resta - Force India

9 Romain Grosjean - Lotus

10 Nico Hulkenburg - Sauber