LEWIS Hamilton's bid to become the first rookie driver to win the Formula One World Championship was put on hold after the McLaren driver suffered his first retirement of the season at the Chinese Grand Prix.

The 22-year-old beached his car in the gravel after sliding off the pit lane entry road as he came in to change heavily-worn tyres as an incredible season took another dramatic twist.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen won the 56-lap race by 9.8 seconds from second-placed McLaren driver Fernando Alonso as the pair set up a thrilling three-car showdown for the drivers' title in the final race at Brazil. Felipe Massa finished third.