McLaren celebrates a tense but historic 1-2 in Shanghai, with brake drama threatening to derail Norris in the final laps.
McLaren F1 clinched a milestone 50th 1-2 finish at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris securing the full 43 points. But beneath the celebration, the team had to manage a serious mid-race scare.
Team Principal Andrea Stella admitted the race was far more stressful than it appeared on the surface. While both MCL39s looked strong on the dry Shanghai track, a braking issue nearly cost Norris his podium—or worse.
“The race was more tense than it looked,” Stella confessed. “We were worried about tire degradation and strategy—whether to go for one or two stops, and who to cover if rivals split their tactics.”
But the real drama came in the final laps. Norris reported a worsening issue with his brake pedal—it was gradually extending, making it harder to slow the car down.
“Lando handled it brilliantly,” said Stella. “He adapted his driving style to manage the problem and avoid a complete failure. But from the pit wall, we were on edge.”
Norris managed to keep Mercedes’ George Russell at bay, finishing second behind his teammate. Still, the braking issue cast a shadow over the result.
“It’s a great result—but that kind of reliability problem is simply not acceptable,” Stella stated. “It could’ve cost us everything.”
Importantly, Stella didn’t suggest it was a safety risk, which could trigger an FIA investigation. Instead, he framed it as a matter of mechanical reliability—something the team must urgently improve.
“Our team is operating at an exceptional level, but we can’t afford mistakes like this. It’s something we’ll address immediately.”
Despite the late-race tension, Stella praised the team’s overall performance—especially Piastri’s.
“Oscar was outstanding all weekend. He earned pole position and took a confident win on a track he struggled with just a year ago. That shows real growth.”
While McLaren didn’t score as high as hoped in the Sprint race, Stella highlighted the team’s quick learning and sharp execution heading into Sunday.
“We took key lessons from the Sprint, adapted well, and delivered a top result. That’s the kind of response we want to see.”
He ended with a nod to the team behind the scenes—both at the track and back at the factory in Woking.
“Thank you to everyone at McLaren, our partners at Mercedes HPP, and our dedicated sponsors. And of course, to our drivers—for their teamwork on and off the track.”
With the Chinese Grand Prix behind them, McLaren now shifts focus to the upcoming triple-header in April, kicking off with Japan.
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Brake Woes Can’t Stop McLaren’s Historic Double Win Brake Woes Can’t Stop McLaren’s Historic Double Win
