'Aggressive' Verstappen to tweak overtaking approach

Max Verstappen says he will "look at a situation better" when approach future overtakes after a pair of overzealous manoeuvres wrecked his Chinese Grand Prix. Verstappen was in position to take the victory which ultimately fell to team-mate Daniel Ricciardo but wound up finishing fifth.

With Red Bull's masterful double pit-stop putting Verstappen and Ricciardo on soft tyres under the safety car in Shanghai, the Dutchman gave up track position to his team-mate after running wide trying to go around the outside of Lewis Hamilton.

And his hopes of a podium went up in smoke in a bold dive down the inside of Sebastian Vettel, with contact sending both drivers into a spin.

Ricciardo managed bold passes on Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas as he sped from sixth to first inside nine laps and Verstappen, though keen to retain his aggressive instincts, says he must make tweaks after his race in Bahrain was also ended by a collision with Hamilton.

"It was not my best race, but I don't have to think about it anymore," he said. "I've learned from it and I'm looking forward.

"I will not be less aggressive, but I will look at a situation better."

Verstappen's father, former F1 driver Jos, and Red Bull motorsport chief Dr Helmut Marko both spoke of the youngster's need to pick his moments better in races.

After taking counsel from those close to him, Verstappen is now ready to apply the lessons learned in next week's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

"These are people who know about it and understand how it works. I do not need a psychologist," he said. "Do I sleep well? I always sleep well.

"I should have done it differently, but if you were to know everything in advance, you could change the entire world. At some point you have to look ahead, so I'm looking ahead to Baku."