Haas’ Mick Schumacher took the positives from his failure to score points at the Singapore Grand Prix last weekend.
The German was eliminated in Q2 as Kevin Magnussen made the top 10 in a competitive qualifying for Haas, but the 30-year-old lost places off the start.
Magnussen was then called into the pits by the stewards for minor front wing damage, and he eventually recovered to 12th.
George Russell was recovering from a pit lane start after brake issues put him out of the second phase of qualifying, and the Mercedes driver had a tumultuous race under the lights.
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He was initially trying to make his way up the order before he hit Valtteri Bottas and went off, and the Briton later stumbled across Schumacher.
Russell was beginning to grow frustrated behind the 23-year-old, who was holding firm until the eight-time podium finisher got down the inside into Turn One.
The pair made contact though, giving them both punctures, and they both crossed the line outside the top 10.
Schumacher’s 13th-placed finish came after an optimism-inspiring display over the course of the weekend, so he saw the silver lining.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t [go as we hoped], obviously the contact with George was probably the one that killed our race, with the puncture and everything,” he told Formula1.com.
“Nonetheless, we finished in P13, I think we can say in one way that we are happy that we finished [when] not a lot of people did.
“Being the only rookie coming to the race to finish also is an achievement, so we can tick that box. We had the pace; we had the pace for points and unfortunately, we just got unlucky.
“Nonetheless, we’re going to Suzuka with a good feeling.”
The 2020 Formula 2 champion had every right to fight the driver who won the junior series two years before him.
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“I knew he was quicker, but it was just a matter of time, but I think in the first battle we had it was probably a bit risky,” added Schumacher.
“But on the other hand we are all racing for points, all racing for our own positions. So, I could say in the sense we are all fighting for our own race.”
Haas have not scored points since the Austrian Grand Prix in July, and they have now fallen behind Aston Martin to eighth in the Constructors’ Standings.