The Chinese GP was one of the best we have had in a long time with the Red Bull team tops in the action. Daniel Ricciardo, the last of the late breakers, came out on top with a well judged race to claim the top step of the podium. This was after a turbo breakdown required an engine change with only two hours available, leaving Ricciardo two minutes to qualify.
His team mate, the very fast, but reckless, Max Verstappen was right in the action at the front, but let himself down with more ill-timed passing maneuvers eventually being penalized with a 10 second penalty for the collision he had with Vettel (Ferrari) dropping himself down 5th.
The once all-conquering Mercedes team must be wondering what has gone wrong, with Bottas (the number 2 driver) out-qualifying the expensive number 1 driver Hamilton, and coming in second on the podium to Hamilton’s fifth on the road (later elevated to fourth following Verstappen’s 10 second relegation).
Upsets were also experienced in the Ferrari camp with series leader Vettel finding himself on unsuitable tyres and unable to resist challenges by the Red Bulls, leaving his number 2 Raikkonen to fly the flag from 3rd on the podium.
Further mixes came with Hulkenberg’s 6th in the Renault, Alonso 7th in the McLaren, Sainz in the second Renault and Team Haas 10th with Magnussen.
This was the best GP so far this year, apart from Martin Brundle’s “Grid Walk” which was a great idea a few years back where Martin would shoulder anyone aside, but it has now got to the embarrassing stage where he is running up and down the grid looking for someone, anyone, to interview. Just another victim of PC.
Results:
1 D Ricciardo Red Bull
2 V Bottas Mercedes
3 K Raikkonen Ferrari
4 L Hamilton Mercedes
5 M Verstappen Red Bull
6 N Hulkenberg Renault
7 F Alonso McLaren
8 S Vettel Ferrari
9 C Sainz Renault
10 K Magnussen Haas
