• Chinese Grand Prix

Red Bull 'blown away' by competitors - Webber

Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel had a tough day in Shanghai © Sutton Images

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Mark Webber has admitted that Red Bull was simply outclassed by its competitors at the wet Chinese Grand Prix.

After locking out the front row in qualifying, both Webber and Sebastian Vettel lost out after changing to intermediate tyres before the track was wet enough. From that point onwards they struggled to pass competitors and showed none of the dominance they had displayed in qualifying. Webber finished eighth but did not make any excuses for his performance.

"It was a difficult race for us and we got a bit blown away - we weren't quick enough, simple as that," he said. "There were very changeable conditions during the race, I know it's the same for everyone, but the cars are very sensitive when it's not going one way or the other. So, an interesting grand prix. We know where we lose out in these difficult conditions and we will improve it. I went for another set of intermediates towards the end of the race to try and make up some places. I thought it might work, it did, but then we weren't quick at the end."

Vettel agreed that the car did not perform when it was stuck behind other cars and on a slippery track surface.

"I think today it was very chaotic and to take sixth can be quite important," Vettel said. "Obviously our main competitors finished ahead, so that's not nice. We struggled quite a lot in some of the conditions with the car, it was okay when we were in clean air, our pace was decent, but it's very on and off in these conditions. It's a lot just to maintain your track position.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.