Jenson Button secured his second victory of the 2010 season after taking full advantage of changeable weather conditions in China this afternoon. Two safety car periods and continual rain from one-third distance provided for a chaotic race, with Lewis Hamilton taking second place subject to a post-race stewards’ inquiry.

With rain in the air, the race got underway as planned in dry conditions and Fernando Alonso jumped straight into the lead from third place, albeit thanks to a jump start for which he soon received a drive-through penalty. However, a first-lap collision involving Tonio Liuzzi, Sébastien Buemi and Kamui Kobayashi brought out the safety car for three laps, prompting many drivers to pit for intermediate tyres as the rain started falling more heavily.

But the rain soon stopped and those who had stayed out on slicks began to reap the rewards. Those included new race leader Nico Rosberg, Jenson Button, Robert Kubica, Pedro de la Rosa and Vitaly Petrov. Despite his best efforst however, Rosberg was unable to open a gap to second-placed Button during his first stint, and when the returning rain caught him out at turn 11 on lap 19, Button was close enough to challenge for and take the lead on the back straight.

But with the rain intensifying further, all drivers were forced to pit for intermediate tyres between laps 19 and 20. No sooner had Button pitted for inters and rejoined with a four-second advantage, but the safety car was called upon for the second time to help clear debris from an Alguersuari-Senna touch.

Rain continued to fall for the remainder of the race, and with the inters wearing heavily all drivers had to pit again for a fresh set of rubber, with Nico Rosberg following Hamilton’s lead by piting on lap 38, the same lap as Button. Unfortunately for the German it was a lap too late, and Hamilton was able to take second place, with team-mate Jenson Button continuing unhindered in the lead.

With Hamilton again suffering greatly with tyre wear, Button was able to open a comfortable lead before he too began to feel the effects of pushing hard, dropping back into the clutches of Lewis. However Hamilton was unable to challenge the second McLaren for the lead, and cruised home for McLaren’s first 1-2 finish since the 2007 Italian Grand Prix. Nico Rosberg meanwhile managed to hold on to third place from a charging Fernando Alonso to secure his second podium in a row, while Alonso picked up some valuable points for forth, having been some 75 seconds off the lead before the second safety car period.

Others picking up points included Robert Kubica for Renault in fifth, pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel in sixth, rookie Vitaly Petrov in seventh, Mark Webber in eighth, Michael Schumacher in ninth and former championship leader Felipe Massa in tenth.

Button’s victory vaults him into the lead of the world championship, being the only driver with two race wins, while Nico Rosberg climbs three places to second, his highest ever championship ranking. Felipe Massa, who led the championship coming to China, drops to sixth place, underlining just how competitive it is at the front in 2010.

Here are the full results from the race;