The hits and flops of Shanghai

TOPS

Jenson Button
Winner of the Chinese Grand Prix, Jenson Button is logically the first driver to be rewarded. Starting fifth, the Briton was once again confused about the tire strategy to adopt at the start of the race. In Australia, his intuition allowed him to climb to second place before taking advantage of the abandonment of Sebastian Vettel to impose itself. Same thing in Shanghai, where the pilot McLaren preferred not to put on “rain” tires until there were many drops. Second behind Nico Rosberg, he took advantage of an error from the German to overtake him and win. He was promised misery in the face of Lewis Hamilton : after four Grands Prix, the World Champion is doing rather well.

Vitaly Petrov
At the end of the Malaysian Grand Prix, you voted him the revelation of the start of the season in an AUTOhebdo.fr poll. The Russian once again confirmed all his qualities. Fast, cheeky, the GP2 vice-Champion doesn't wait for his car to be the best in the field to stand out. Sunday, despite his little experience of the F1, he offered himself Michael Schumacher regularly, at the cost of superb overtaking. Petrov brings his first F1 points to Russia by finishing seventh. Very good debut for a driver who had never touched an F1 car before February 1st.

Lewis Hamilton
We can blame him for his lack of sportsmanship (strong duel with Vettel in the pits, with Webber at the restart), his team can blame him for his "hot head" side, we can suspect him of being spared by the FIA ​​in terms of sanctions ...but we can't say he lacks panache. Once again, the 2008 World Champion was the great entertainer of the race. Victim of a double tire change which made him lose a lot of places, Hamilton started the overtaking machine and offered himself Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel, Adrian Sutil, Michael Schumacher (twice), Vitaly Petrov, Robert Kubica, Nico Rosberg? A new festival which shows Jenson Button, winner of two Grands Prix, that he will be a difficult opponent to beat when track conditions are normal.

FLOPS

Michael Schumacher
It's difficult not to place the seven-time World Champion in this category. Certainly, the German driver does not like his car, certainly, he is waiting for the developments in Barcelona to shine. But everyone wants to see the return of the real Schumi. In Shanghai, the former king of the rain seemed lost, overtaken by many drivers, Lewis Hamilton, Vitaly Petrov, Felipe Massa? In the past, these conditions would have allowed him to excel. Mercedes and Schumacher are demanding time but, after four races, the encouraging signs are not legion. Schumi's return to F1, a bad idea?

Felipe Massa
Felipe Massa, Ferrari driver since 2006, has undoubtedly found in Fernando Alonso his toughest teammate. In 2006, King Schumacher was on his way out. From 2007 to 2009, Kimi Räikkönen's silence gave him every credit within the Team. But, this season, he faces a big challenge. At the moment, he is losing his challenge. In Shanghai, too soft, the Brazilian gave Fernando Alonso the opportunity to overtake him in the pit lane. He was caught and had to wait his turn to change tires, losing precious seconds and a few places. He finished ninth, far from Fernando Alonso, who nevertheless went through the pitlane once again (drive through for a stolen start). A French football World Champion coach said to one of his players: “strengthen your game, if you don’t strengthen your game, you will have disappointments”. A phrase that applies very well to the Brazilian.

Red Bull
What is happening to the Milton Keynes stable? Would she become the World Champion of missed opportunities? Christian Horner's team took all the pole positions at the start of the season. Four poles, just one victory, a third place in the World Manufacturers' Championship. In Shanghai, the blue cars did the double in qualifying. Bad start to the race, bad tire strategy, Red Bull got off to a bad start to its Grand Prix. And the rain didn't help, Christian Horner recognizing that his car is less effective than the others on intermediate tires and in the wet. After narrowly missing the title in 2009, Red Bull must quickly correct the situation. The Milton Keynes team can't miss their chance so many times.