Chinese Takeaway: Red Bull charging, Ferrari sleeping, Mercedes nowhere

The thrills and spills in 2018 have made for a very interesting championship heading into the European stint of the season.

Well, we have had one and a half races so far this year that have been cracking and the other half a bit boring. A slow burner that came alive in its second act, the Chinese Grand Prix was a spectacular affair with all the thrills and spills one could hope for in an F1 race.

A quick thank you to Toro Rosso after an apparent communication error led to contact and the safety car being deployed. It was from this point onwards that the race really stepped up.

A Red Bull team that had been up against it after a power unit failure for Daniel Ricciardo on Saturday almost denied the Australian the chance to qualify showed the paddock how it was done.

Quick thinking, two very tidy double stops and the nerve to go against the status quo launched them into a position almost everyone after the race said they should have been in, attacking for the win.

The Red Bull charge was a tale of two drivers though. Max Verstappen, off of the back of his widely criticised move on Lewis Hamilton in Bahrain, again had a race he will want to forget quickly. Over exuberance, impatience and a lack of driving intelligence that he is usually complimented for have cost the Dutchman dear so far in 2018, China being the worst race so far for him.

Two occasions he risked his race where he didn’t need to, almost spinning out trying to pass Hamilton at turn seven and later on Sebastian Vettel at the hairpin where he tagged the world championship leader and effectively ruined his race.

Ricciardo, on the other hand, judged his race to perfection. Incredible and bold overtakes on some of the finest drivers on the planet meant it was he who stood atop the podium rather than his teammate who had every chance to do so.

Valtteri Bottas had the ignominy of losing the race win to a driver who could very well take his seat next season. The Finn was unlucky with the safety car after a very measured in and out lap earned him the lead after Ferrari’s strategy mistakes (more on that later).

The Mercedes man had the beating of his teammate comfortably all weekend but couldn’t capitalise when it counted. Old tyres hindered him massively but that won’t make the trip back to base knowing a win was lost any easier.

Fellow Finn Kimi Raikkonen delighted fans with a podium, continuing his strong start to the season. Despite Ferrari’s best efforts, the Iceman drove superbly with pace all day and earned himself some champagne after seemingly being forgotten about on the pit wall and used as a blocker for Vettel to catch Bottas. It has been a theme at the Scuderia for some time but he has shown pace this season and is above such a role at this stage.

Vettel will be bitterly disappointed after Ferrari had the beating of Mercedes by some margin this weekend. The Silver Arrows were nowhere on pace until Bottas stepped up during his second stint but losing ground after an opportunity like that will sting.

If you had money on Mercedes not winning until Europe, then fair play because nobody saw this coming during testing. They were off the pace when it counted and were lucky to be in the hunt for the win after Ferrari’s lapse in concentration.

The only thing they can take solace in after this weekend is the championship. Still leading the constructors despite not winning in 2018 and Vettel’s advantage in the drivers’ championship is down to nine points, the two weeks between now and Baku will be full of analysis and reflection for the reigning champions.

Is the W09 a diva like its predecessor? Time will tell but the German team have dropped the ball this year and their rivals have picked it up and run with it.