CHINA GRAND PRIX - I AM BACK WITH WITH SPEED, SAID DANIEL RICCIARDO! THE END!

And in all of that, such was Red Bull's pace over Mercedes, that Max was able to overtake Hamilton no less than 3 times during the race

Mercedes had the consolation of Valtteri Bottas holding on to his P.2 position, but only just.  

As the Red Bulls just could not stop themselves from floating over the circuit.  As if they were literally absorbing all the energy flowing around it.  

And using it to glide around the track as if they were running on some unseen rails, and being pulled toward the end of the race by an unseen golden pulley.

Lewis Hamilton was, fortuitously, able to complete the race at the same position he started it at; P.4. 

Thanks to Max's penalty, although, without the intervention of the Safety Car, he might have done better, or, considering Red Bulls' pace, even worse. 

It is not for us to second guess the gods, as we cannot know what might have been had things transpired differently, since. We can only know what has happened. 

It transpired that, as well as other things not being equal, both Hamilton and Team Mercedes  and their cars, are not performing as they should and need to perform, consistently.  

If Hamilton is to get himself in line for making a competitive challenge for the Season's Championship. 

It is clear that Car 44 is not what it ought and need to be, to become a 2018 Champion. 

But then, neither is Team Mercedes and Hamilton stepping up to the challenge of by placing themselves in 'a holding formation' until they can mount the attack for the Championship. 

An attack, not only against Ferrari and Red Bull, but other teams further down the rank. Valtteri Bottas is, so far, the man who is doing this. 

It is good to hear Hamilton acknowledge that he is underperforming and that he needs to get his act together; as does Team Mercedes. 

We will now have to await the Baku Grand Prix to see if Team Mercedes have mad the progress they need to make, or whether they remain, relatively, at sea, with their pace, race strategy and implementation, and Hamilton's verve.