Oscar Piastri delivered a commanding performance at the Chinese Grand Prix, bouncing back from last week’s late-race mistake in Australia to secure victory from pole position. The Australian led teammate Lando Norris to a McLaren 1-2 finish, asserting himself as a serious title contender in the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Piastri controlled the 56-lap race at the Shanghai International Circuit from start to finish, flawlessly managing his pace in a strategic battle centered around whether drivers would opt for one or two pit stops. In the end, most of the field—including the top five finishers—settled for a single stop, with Piastri expertly maintaining his lead over Norris throughout both stints.
Norris remained within three seconds of his teammate in the closing stages but was instructed by the McLaren pit wall to manage a developing brake issue and avoid unnecessary risks—securing a perfect result for the team.
Piastri: “This Is What I Deserved From Last Week”
Reflecting on his first win of the season, a jubilant Piastri said:
“It’s been an incredible weekend from start to finish. The car’s been pretty mega the whole time. I think today was a bit of a surprise with how the tyres behaved, but I’m just super proud of the whole weekend.”
“This is what I feel like I deserved from last week. The team did a mega job with the 1-2. I’m very, very happy.”
Ferrari’s Misery as Leclerc and Hamilton Disqualified
Max Verstappen, who had predicted a tough race for Red Bull following their struggles in the Sprint, finished fourth, unable to mount a challenge for the podium. Behind him, Ferrari endured a nightmare finish, as Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton—who originally crossed the line in fifth and sixth—were both disqualified after post-race inspections found their cars to be in violation of technical regulations.
Hamilton’s disqualification for excessive plank wear mirrored the infringement that saw him lose a second-place finish at the 2023 United States Grand Prix when he was with Mercedes. With both Ferrari drivers excluded from the final classification, the team left Shanghai empty-handed.
What’s Next?
Following a week’s break, Formula 1 heads to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix, set to take place from April 4-6.
