Britain's Lewis Hamilton won the 1,000th F1 race on Sunday after grabbing the lead from Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas at the first corner and powering to victory in blustery Shanghai.

Hamilton, who started from second on the grid, took the world championship lead after romping home to win the Chinese Grand Prix by more than 6.5 seconds over Bottas, with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel third.

This was world champion Hamilton's second straight GP victory and sixth triumph at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen of Red Bull was fourth and Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari was fifth.

"To have a one-two (for Mercedes) is really special in the 1,000th grand prix but the start was where it made the difference and the rest is history," Hamilton said.

The British driver was edged for pole position by Bottas by just 0.023 seconds in qualifying and had said that he was "struggling with the car".

But the Finn labored out of the blocks, allowing Hamilton to grab the lead at the first corner.

"I lost it on the start, honestly, shame about the start, I got some wheel spin on the start line," said Bottas, who also relinquished his hold on the standings after three races.

Meanwhile, talented 21-year-old Leclerc pulled off the same trick at the start at the expense of his teammate Vettel, darting into third.

There was more early drama when Toro Rosso's Daniil Kvyat tangled with both McLarens of Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz, earning the Russian a drive-through penalty.

On lap 11, four-time world champion Vettel leapfrogged back in front of Monaco's Leclerc into third following radio orders from Ferrari telling the youngster to let him pass.

At the front, the 34-year-old Hamilton began pulling away, establishing a more than five-second gap on Bottas with a third of the race gone.

With five-time world champion Hamilton - winner in Bahrain two weeks ago - serene up top, the real battles unfolded behind him.

Vettel, under pressure after a number of unforced errors going back to last season, went wheel-to-wheel with Verstappen after both pitted for fresh tires.

Vettel, Bottas and then Toro Rosso's Alexander Albon, who missed qualifying after a nasty crash in final practice, all exchanged fastest laps.

On lap 38 of the 56 it was Leclerc and Bottas who had a skirmish in the compelling battle for second.

Leclerc then pitted and was momentarily held up by a comparatively sluggish change of tyres.

Nico Hulkenberg, who qualified eighth for Renault, saw his race come to an early conclusion after the team retired his faltering car.

The fourth race of the season takes place on the streets of Baku, Azerbaijan, in two weeks.