How Chinese Grand Prix unfolded

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner told Sky Sports post-race: "I mean he’s [Verstappen] been on fantastic form all weekend but the team as well have been outstanding this weekend, to win the sprint, to get the front row, the pole position and the front row lockout for the race, and a 1, 3 in the race. I think we were slightly unlucky with the safety car. Max is on another planet at the moment, his form is absolutely fantastic."

On comparing Verstappen to the rest of the field, he added: “It varies from circuit to circuit but he’s totally at one with the machine and he has this unbelievable feel and empathy with the car and the grip and the conditions, and the confidence in himself. He has the ability to understand the tyres, when they need to be pushed, when they need to be saved and he’s got this incredible racing brain, it’s almost unhuman what he’s capable of."

Twenty years ago, Brazil's Ferrari driver Rubens Barrichello won the first Chinese Grand Prix in a season dominated by team-mate Michael Schumacher.

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Zhou Guanyu, speaking to Sky Sports after finishing 14th: "I drove my heart out today, unfortunately not enough for the points but we go again next time.

"I am just so happy to see the whole crowd. No words. A mixture of emotions and a day to remember.

"Hopefully in the future more drivers from my country will be stepping in here."

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton who went from 18th to ninth in the Chinese Grand Prix: "I'm grateful to just get to the points. I didn't expect a lot more this weekend.

"I think we, hopefully, have some step forwards coming in the next race until then we will be back in the factory next week to put us in a good position for Miami and hope we have a better weekend.

On being back in China: "I have huge support here great to see the whole support for the sport here the track is amazing, good to be back."

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, speaking to Sky Sports: "Not good enough overall. We were lacking pace. We have to dig deep. We have something coming for Miami which looks like a good step. Let's see what it brings.

"It is not an OK car. We can see the mistakes we did on the car, we wanted to go more aggressive. The race car was not fast, Lewis Hamilton said it could not turn and you could see it on the data."

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Lewis Hamilton finished around about where he probably expected to in ninth. He has finished ninth three times in his last four races.

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Max Verstappen annihilated the competition to win the Chinese Grand Prix.

The Dutchman was in a league of his own again - even over his team-mate Sergio Perez - in a race punctuated by two mid-race safety cars in quick succession.

Safety cars broke up Red Bull's cruise to a one-two finish, shuffling Perez behind McLaren's Lando Norris and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

The Mexican picked off Leclerc - but Norris drove an exceptional final stint to hold on to second.

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Max Verstappen now leads the drivers' championship by 25 points after his fourth win of the season.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella: "We came here thinking this was a damage limitation event, and yet pole in the sprint, it would have been P2 in the sprint without that first corner, then good qualifying for the race and then podium.

"In fairness, we maintained the second position [through the Safety Car] due to great driving by Lando."

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Lando Norris climbed the podium for the 15th time in his career and it is the eighth time he has finished second.

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A moment that will live with Zhou Guanyu forever - racing in front of his own fans at his home race.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins the Chinese GP, he said afterwards: “It felt amazing I think all weekend we were incredibly quick and it was just enjoyable to drive, every single compound as well, the restarts I think we survived that well. These kind of weekends are of course amazing to feel and to achieve basically what we did this weekend is fantastic.”

“You hear the noises a little bit [after asking the team to check if he had ran over some debris in the latter stage of the race] but I’ve had it in the past where I’ve retired quite close to the end and there was a bit of debris from a car and when the tyres are getting cold and old it’s very easy to puncture them so I just wanted to double check.”

On the Miami Grand Prix in a couple of weeks’ time, he said: “It should normally be a good race for us, normally a little bit more straight forward with the strategy but it’s always quite a difficult track so I’m excited.”

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McLaren's Lando Norris who finished second at the Chinese Grand Prix: "I'm surprised, I'm very happy, very happy for the team. Good pit stops, today it worked out, I don't know how, I wasn't really expecting it.

"I got comfortable, I managed the tyres, It's a lot easier task than yesterday. I could just push the car and it felt great and comfortable so good day, good points and another podium, so very happy."

On being faster than Red Bull's Sergio Perez: "I'm surprised by many things, the lack of pace on the Ferrari, our good pace. Us comparing to the Red Bull was surprising. I wasn't expecting today at all, I got everything to be out early and not be on the podium, its a pleasant surprise but shows the team have done a good job, we're working hard and it's paying off.

"I made a bet to how far behind the Ferrari we will finish today. I thought 35 seconds, I was very wrong with that but I'm happy to be wrong. It's been good day for everyone."

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Sergio Perez, who finished third, said: “We lost it quite a bit unfortunately we got a safety car and we lost two places and we did most of the race on the hard, and it was tough fighting like that on the laps and the life of the tyres goes automatically. But at least we managed to get onto the podium but it would have been good one and two.”

On the tyres and race pace, he added: “We were definitely lucky especially on the medium compound we did struggle a bit with the balance we changed a lot from yesterday to today so I think we dealt with the conditions as perfectly as we could but overall it was a strong weekend and we understand the reasons why the race pace was a little bit down.”

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Victory is the 58th of Max Verstappen's career, but his first in China.

The only mistake in Lando Norris' drive came right at the end as he appeared to forget that the top three park on the grid and was heading down the pit lane.

He sorts himself out and is able to get to the post-race interviews in time.

A lovely moment here as Zhou Guanyu is given a special spot to park right in front of the grandstand. He climbs out of the car and is cheered loudly. The emotions are too much and he is in tears.

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Max Verstappen again imperious as he proves that he can win on almost any track.

11) Ocon

12) Albon

13) Gasly

14) Zhou

15) Stroll

16) Magnussen

17) Sargeant

18) Ricciardo

19) Tsunoda

20) Bottas