The second race of the 2025 Formula 1 season, the Chinese Grand Prix, ended with a dominant performance by McLaren. Oscar Piastri claimed his third career victory, followed by his teammate Lando Norris in second place. George Russell completed the podium in third.
McLaren Takes the Lead from the Start
As the five red lights went out, all top ten drivers opted for medium compound tires. Piastri and Russell got off to a strong start, but Norris overtook Russell in the first corner to secure second place.
Max Verstappen struggled at the start, losing two positions, while the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz moved up the order. However, Leclerc made contact with Lewis Hamilton, damaging his front wing.
Further back, Gabriel Bortoleto spun, briefly bringing out yellow flags, while Fernando Alonso was forced to retire due to a brake failure.
Pit Stop Strategies Shape the Race
On Lap 14, Hamilton and Verstappen pitted for hard tires, followed by Piastri and Russell a lap later. Norris pitted on Lap 16 but lost time due to traffic, falling behind Russell.
With no pit stop yet, Alex Albon inherited the race lead, but Piastri quickly reclaimed the top spot on fresher tires. Norris also overtook Albon to move into second place.
Meanwhile, Leclerc was chasing Russell in DRS range but made a mistake, losing time. With just three laps remaining, McLaren warned Norris of possible rain, but it never arrived.
McLaren’s 1-2 Victory, Post-Race Disqualifications Shake Up Results
Piastri led from the front to secure victory, while Norris managed to hold on to second despite brake issues. Russell finished third, with Verstappen taking fourth.
However, post-race scrutineering resulted in a major shake-up. Leclerc, Hamilton, and Gasly were disqualified for technical violations. Hamilton’s car exceeded the allowed skid block wear limit, leading to his disqualification.
As a result, Esteban Ocon moved up to fifth place, while Haas drivers Antonelli and Bearman secured valuable points. Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz also gained positions in the revised standings.
The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix was a showcase of McLaren’s strength, while Ferrari and Mercedes faced disappointment. The next races will be crucial in the battle for the championship.