Lights Out: Mercedes doubts grow as Shanghai fallout continues

Lights Out: Mercedes doubts grow as Shanghai fallout continues

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Tuesday 17 April 2018 10:00

Daniel Ricciardo might have won the Chinese Grand Prix, but as ever it's the disappointments which take up most column inches immediately after the race, with Max Verstappen and world champions Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton under the closest scrutiny. It's lights out for Tuesday morning!

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Given that he, y'know, won the race at the weekend, let's start with Ricciardo.

His contract might be up at the end of this year, but how many zeros did that Shanghai performance put on his next deal?

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We picked our star performers from the Chinese Grand Prix and it won't surprise you to see Ricciardo in there. But, Lance Stroll?! You'd better believe it!

Right then... Verstappen.

Mercedes executive Niki Lauda waded in, saying Max needs to "sort himself out" after failed overtakes on Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel cost him a possible victory in China.

His boss Christian Horner admitted Max was "impatient" in Shanghai, but says he can still be a top star.

But how different would F1 look if Verstappen had cut out his errors this season.

We tried to piece it together and he might just have been a favourite for the title!

And finally, Mercedes. The reigning champions are yet to fully "understand" their 2018 car according to Toto Wolff.

The Silver Arrows chief also said the performance of Valtteri Bottas was their only positive in China. Ouch, Lewis...

And the champ is feeling the pain. He's not giving up on winning a fifth title in 2018 just yet, but it's not looking great.

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Watch what happened when @alo_oficial took Chinese megastar, Carina Lau on a lap of the Shanghai circuit. Certainly beats the Monday morning commute. #PirelliHotLaps @McLarenAuto pic.twitter.com/jGaDSRueOl — McLaren (@McLarenF1) April 16, 2018