Vettel: "We were not able to stick with Mercedes"

Sebastian Vettel said Ferrari simply couldn't stick with the Mercedes cars during the Chinese Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton won the event, Formula 1's 1000th episode. Mercedes have produced three 1-2's this season, a full hatrick. 

"They [Mercedes] were too quick from the start. I felt I could go faster than Leclerc and then it was difficult for me to find a rhythm. I think it was fair, we were not able to stick with Mercedes," Vettel said after the race. 

Vettel had a mini fight with Max Verstappen. Just as they did last year, the pair met at the Chinese hairpin, but this time they avoided contact. 

"I saw Max coming and I knew he would try and I predicted him going down the inside, I had a moment but managed it.

"It's a shame [Leclerc] couldn't get past Max at the end, I was following the tower in the centre and I think it was close. We need to do a bit of homework."