Things I learned from the 2017 Chinese GP

Second race of the 2017 season, second “things I learned” post for the season. Over all the race was FINE. It started off very exciting and near the end it tailed off and Hamilton ran away with it. Final Podium was Hamilton, Vettel and Verstappen. Max started 17th and ended up on the podium which had all of the European continent foaming at the mouth. Any way onto what I learned..

1. We could be in for a good season if the #2s step it up

It’s all in the Finns. Bottas and Raikkonen hold the season in their hands. If they lay eggs time and time again the season will be boring as it’ll just be “Hamilton vs Vettel” which is FINE, but think how much better the season would be if one of these two Finns steals a couple of wins, out qualifies their teammate, or puts up a fight. My money is on Bottas he only has a year contract and Alonso is BEGGING for an out from McLaren. Step it on it dude, and no more spinning out on a safety car lap and losing all the positions, seriously.

2. The midfield young guns also need to step it up

You’ve gotta feel like the older guys are really putting a hurting on the younger guys across most of the midfield teams though. Hulkenberg is outshining Palmer, Perez is outshining Ocon, and Old man Massa is beating Lance Stroll. Out of those three guys I feel like Ocon is the only one that could really sharpen up as the season progresses and challenge Checo for some positions. Finishing in the points in this race was a good sign of his potential. As for Palmer who spun out on the slicks unprovoked and Lance Stroll not looking on his periphery while Checo overtook him on the inside, and finally Giovinazzi slamming into the wall unprovoked it’s not looking so good for these young guys.

Race - Giovinazzi goes into the wall again

Shame that Wehrlein isn’t back yet because I’m sure he’d the “young gun” that outclasses his rival. But then again, I also said that Giovinazzi was good last race, so what do I know?

3. Carlos Sainz is kind of a badass.

Look, every F1 driver is a badass. Not just anyone can handle those g forces or react that quickly, or even fit into one of those cars but Sainz gave something extra today. It takes balls to go against your team principal’s thoughts and say “look let me make this choice.” Everyone started on Intermediate tires except for him and it was rough at the start but ultimately it proved to be the right move. He finished in the points and kept setting fastest laps while everyone else had to go in during the safety cars he stayed out there. I feel like Sainz has been kinda overlooked ever since Max and Kvyat swapped seats, but Sainz is a standout driver in his own right and I feel like he’s gonna end up in a top team as soon as this current top generation of drivers retires.

4. Nico Hulkenberg is a gamer

The Hulk will FIND A WAY to get ahead, even if that means passing during a virtual safety car. Even if that means passing during a physical safety car. Nico will find a way to get ahead, and I love the man for it. 15 seconds? Who cares, he still finished 12th and ahead of his teammate. What I miss the most is when he and Checo were in the same team and putting up fights with the big boys. Your time will come soon I hope Nico.

5. We don’t need no stinking DRS

You read that right folks, 54 overtakes and just 10 using DRS. Sebastian Vettel, Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, BOTH the Haas boys all had great overtakes. I hope this continues to happen during the rest of the season. Just look the race highlights for some of these great overtakes.

Race highlights - China 2017

6. The best thing about McLaren-Honda is how miserable it makes Alonso

Ok ok, let me elaborate. No one likes to see a supremely talented guy like Alonso unhappy or miserable, but this run in McLaren-Honda has given us some of the best Alonso moments, this season barely in the second race Alonso is already nearing his all time troll level. When told this race that Carlos Sainz set the fastest lap he replied with “He may be fastest but I’m fastest on the turns” which is just kinda like saying “yeah this engine sucks, what do you expect?” when Bottas overtook him with the ease of a grown man taking the child of a baby Alonso goes over the team radio and says “What’s wrong with Bottas’ car?” as in, “How the hell is a guy with this good of a car over taking ME all the way back here.” It’s all funny stuff but it’s sad. Here’s my biggest thing, I feel like any NEW fans to the sport don’t believe the hype of how good Alonso was, so you should go look up any highlights from pre 2013. Hard to imagine him being good when you’ve only seen him DNF for the majority of races he’s been in.

7. The only thing more sensitive than Max’s feelings is the Red Bull Aero

Near the end of the race Max Verstappen kept complaining over and over and over about Grosjean not getting blue flags and messing up his race despite the fact that the Haas was more than a second ahead. Furthermore the Red Bull couldn’t catch up to it, maybe he should complain about HIS car and not the car ahead? Or maybe, not complain? That’d be good. Also follow us on twitter!