Max Maxed Out

Personal commentary. (Chinese Grand Prix 2015 - Race)

I may have been spoilt for given too much hope from the previous race or am I the only one who actually felt that the race was such a torture to watch?

The first lap was really good but aren’t all first laps always the most delightful part of the race? It is the most chaotic lap that builds up to what is to come and pretty much determines where the drivers end up in.

To me, Max Verstappen was the driver to have brought life to the race. Starting from 13^th and having to overtake three times through Marcus Ericsson, Felipe Nasr and Sergio Perez, one has to remember that was a doing of a 17-year-old who is just in his third F1 race of his F1 career. If it was not for him, it was just like watching a two-hour race that is as repetitive as watching NASCAR cars going round in ovals. My heart cried out for how unfortunate Verstappen’s race ended at the second final lap. He was so close to adding more points to make up for what he lost at the Australian GP!

So let me list the other points during the race to take note of. There was the Daniel Ricciardo and Marcus Ericsson duel that lasted for a few laps. It was a great overtake to watch when the rest were just idly racing in the same position. Then we have that team order in Red Bull where Daniil Kvyat was ordered to give up his position to Daniel Ricciardo and we see the Russian retiring a few laps after from engine failure, making it his second unfinished race of the year. 

 

This is the race we finally see McLaren catching up to get closer to the top ten. It was also the one they had caused Pastor Maldonado to be falsely accused. Jenson Button and the Venezuelan made contact, the Briton touching his rear that had resulted in a spin. Just at the right time, Button’s teammate Fernando Alonso had seized the opportunity to move up when the two were struggling to get back their grip from their cars.   

Mega congratulations to both McLaren and Manor-Marussia for getting both cars through the chequered flag. It definitely is not the best positions to be in but it is definitely an achievement and progression. Also the same extend to the Saubers who have both cars through the top ten and Romain Grosjean for scoring Lotus' first points. 

I have not found the time to watch the replay of the post race press conference but I did read tweets about it and it seems like Mercedes will have a difficult time controlling their drivers from next race onwards. More team orders will be broken and putting Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will never be the same again. Everyone will be in a state of nerves as the race goes on to the final races of the season. 

I have a friend who saw the race in a different viewpoint. His views somehow opened my eyes to watching races. He pointed out that different tracks are designed differently and they cannot be made perfect in the sight of a F1 fan. This is how there will be a specific race that will be etched in our memory at the end of each season. There has to be a stand out to make that race special and the most memorable. As a true F1 fan, one should not miss the other aspects in the race that that makes up for it. If you are a true F1 fan, we should actually look forward to each race and end up enjoying it rather than picking on it. Boring is too much of a vague description (a big UNLESS you are completely watching a race that has zero overtakes). We can definitely do better than that. That being said, I will still set my expectations at a minimum before watching the race next Sunday (it will be Monday midnight for me, hah) just so I will not be let down. 

Chinese Grand Prix Race: 

1. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes-Mercedes 56 laps 1hr 39m 42.008s 
2. Nico Rosberg GER Mercedes-Mercedes +0.7s 
3. Sebastian Vettel GER Ferrari-Ferrari +2.9s 
4. Kimi Raikkonen FIN Ferrari-Ferrari +3.8s 
5. Felipe Massa BRZ Williams-Mercedes +8.5s 
6. Valtteri Bottas FIN Williams-Mercedes +9.8s 
7. Romain Grosjean FRA Lotus-Mercedes +19.0s 
8. Felipe Nasr BRZ Sauber-Ferrari +22.6s 
9. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Red Bull-Renault +32.1s 
10. Marcus Ericsson SWE Sauber-Ferrari +1 lap 

11. Sergio Perez MEX Force India-Mercedes +1 lap 
12. Fernando Alonso ESP McLaren-Honda +1 lap 
13. Carlos Sainz Jr ESP Toro Rosso-Renault +1 lap 
14. Jenson Button GBR McLaren-Honda +1 lap * 
15. Will Stevens GBR Manor-Ferrari +2 laps 
16. Roberto Merhi ESP Manor-Ferrari +2 laps ** 

Rtd Max Verstappen NED Toro Rosso-Renault 53 laps completed engine 
Rtd Pastor Maldonado VEN Lotus-Mercedes 50 laps completed accident damage 
Rtd Daniil Kvyat RUS Red Bull-Renault 16 laps completed engine 
Rtd Nico Hulkenberg GER Force India-Mercedes 9 laps completed gearbox