Sebastian Vettel said the timing of the Safety Car at the Chinese Grand Prix meant he could not "use the momentum" after his early pit-stop, though he enjoyed his fightback to second.
The German held on to second at the start of the race, which began on a damp but drying track with all but one car on intermediates. An early Virtual Safety Car period saw several drivers, including Vettel, make the switch to slick tyres, only for a full Safety Car period to follow several laps later when Antonio Giovinazzi crashed heavily.
Vettel thinks Giovinazzi's crash prevented him from utilising the dry tyre at a point when the four cars in front, including eventual race-winner Lewis Hamilton, had stayed on intermediates as the Safety Car slowed the field when conditions were perfect to capitalise on his switch.