CHINESE GRAND PRIX REVIEW: We’re witnessing statistical greatness

It’s 7:30am on Sunday 21st April. My alarm has just rudely awaken me at a disgusting time for a Sunday. For the first time this season I’ve decided to actually wake up for a fly away race and see if it’s as bad as everyone is making out. 

It’s a strange one to write about as it was an ok race. Enough action further down the field to make it interesting, but on the whole the lack of action for first place made difficult to get too aroused. 

I feel we are in the middle of an incredible stat based few years for Max Verstappen. Providing his car finishes the race, he is almost certain to win. I have never known an era where a driver never seems to have an ‘off weekend’. He deserves so much credit for being able to pull out such consistantcy  It’s just a shame that he just has it so easy at the moment. 

This race should probably have been a Red Bull 1-2, but a safety car allowed Lando Norris to sneak in front of Perez. The Mexican was unable to really make a proper threat on the McLaren. It seems like an opportunity missed for him, especially when his team mate is lapping nearly 1second a lap faster. 

Further back, the Lewis Hamilton saga continues. It’s another utterly bizarre weekend from the seven time Champ. Who went from showing his class in the wet on Friday, becoming 2nd best in the sprint on Saturday morning. I don’t think anyone was then expecting him to put his Mercedes 18th on the grid. He then spent most of Sunday’s race complaining of tyres and overall pace, to come home in 9th. If Lance Stroll wouldn’t have rammed the safety car queue, he might not of even got points. 

As someone who has watched Lewis from his GP2 triumph in 2006, it’s been a tough watch the last couple of years. I’m just hoping that the move to Ferrari next season gives him a new lease of life as at the moment it seems like he is fighting a car suffering with Schizophrenia. 

A wholesome moment of the weekend was Zhou’s tearful reaction to finishing his first Grand Prix on home sole. It was a great moment for him and fair play to F1 allowing him to line up on the grid with the top three (or 1st and 3rd due to Norris getting lost).

Overall, it was a decent return to China after a five year absence (I wonder why?). Max is on the verge of all time greatness and is destined for his 4th title in a row. It’s time to sit back and enjoy the stat-fest while the rest of them battle for 2nd. At least I can watch them at more UK friendly times of the day. 

Next up, it’s over to Miami for the seasonal Cringe Grand Prix.