'It was not easy' – Verstappen reflects on positives after P4 result in difficult Chinese GP

Fourth-placed Max Verstappen was determined to focus on the positive aspects of the Chinese Grand Prix despite lacking pace to the front runners for much of the race.

The Red Bull driver had finished second to Lewis Hamilton in Saturday’s Sprint but was unable to replicate that pace in Qualifying for the Grand Prix, positioning himself in fourth on the grid – behind McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, as well as Mercedes’ George Russell.

READ MORE: Piastri beats Norris and Russell to victory in Chinese Grand Prix with statement performance

Managing his pace across the opening phases of the Grand Prix, Verstappen dropped back from the leaders and also fell behind Ferrari drivers Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the initial stages.

While the reigning World Champion was able to regain positions to the men in red – Leclerc running with damage throughout and Hamilton opting for a two-stop strategy – he could not trouble those ahead and finished 5.5s off Russell.

“The beginning, it was not easy,” said Verstappen. “I just drove to the pace that we set out to do, but that was not at the same level as the cars ahead.

“The medium was probably a bit more difficult but actually, on the hard tyre, from basically the second half phase, we seemed a little bit more competitive, a little bit more promising at least.

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“That was at least enjoyable - trying to catch the cars ahead, having a bit of a fight as well.

“I think we’ll take that as a positive, that there is pace in the car at some point. We just need to understand a bit more why it didn’t happen at the beginning and why at the end of the race it was a bit better.”

When late race pace was unearthed from his Red Bull, Verstappen was able to hunt down Leclerc for fourth and made a spectacular pass around the outside of Turn 3.

Asked if he was pleased with the move, the Dutchman added: “It’s positive and better than expected after that first stint of the race.

"We’ll take that, analyse everything from the weekend and hopefully in Japan we can be a bit more competitive.”