The 2018 Chinese Grand Prix was a stern learning lesson for Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen's early 2018 season exemplified the learning curve of a driver navigating the complexities of Formula 1. Despite being in his fourth year, Verstappen faced a string of challenges, starting with a spin in the Australian opener and a collision with Lewis Hamilton in Bahrain. In China, Verstappen's race was marred by incidents, costing him a potential victory. Despite a strong start, including passing Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen to reach third, Verstappen's chances were thwarted by a scrappy race.

The turning point came with a fortuitous Safety Car deployment after a Toro Rosso collision, allowing both Red Bulls to double-stack for fresh tires. In the ensuing sprint to the finish, Verstappen, armed with new Soft tires, made a charge from fourth, alongside teammate Daniel Ricciardo, to salvage a competitive finish after a turbulent start to the season.