Oscar Piastri took a commanding win in China as McLaren delivered a flawless one-two, leaving Red Bull and Ferrari trailing behind.
The second race of the 2025 Formula 1 season delivered a thrilling spectacle at the Shanghai International Circuit. After McLaren’s Lando Norris took pole and victory in Australia, it was teammate Oscar Piastri who starred in China—securing both pole position and the race win.
At lights out, George Russell launched well from the front row and challenged Piastri, but a late brake handed second place to Norris. Behind, Max Verstappen struggled for grip and fell behind the Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton—winner of Saturday’s Sprint—and Charles Leclerc.
Early Chaos, Early Drama
Leclerc clipped Hamilton on the opening lap, damaging his front wing, while Verstappen slipped to sixth. Meanwhile, French rookie Isack Hadjar stunned with a P7 in qualifying and battled in the midfield, along with Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Yuki Tsunoda.
Retirements began early, with Fernando Alonso forced to pit due to overheating brakes. Verstappen, caught between the Ferraris and Antonelli, couldn’t find clean air or rhythm in the opening laps.
McLaren Takes Control
By lap 10, Piastri led Norris by two seconds, with Russell and the Ferrari duo trailing further back. The track temperature hovered around 38°C, creating intense tire degradation, especially for Hamilton, who complained of graining early on.
A powerful undercut triggered a wave of pit stops. Tsunoda and Gasly stopped early and gained positions, while Russell and Piastri responded swiftly. Norris pitted later and briefly lost out to Russell, only to retake the place thanks to traffic.
Ferrari Team Orders, Verstappen Lurking
Ferrari ordered Hamilton to let Leclerc through, which he reluctantly did. Despite a damaged front wing, Leclerc showed pace and closed in on Russell. Verstappen, meanwhile, couldn’t close the gap to the top five and sat in a quiet P6.
McLaren looked comfortable up front. Piastri extended his lead over Norris to four seconds, with the team urging their drivers to manage tire wear carefully. Norris, suffering from brake issues, was told to back off and preserve the car.
Late Moves and Final Push
In the closing stages, Verstappen launched a late attack on Leclerc, overtaking him on lap 53 after a smart switchback in Turn 1. Meanwhile, Norris’s brake pedal issues worsened, and the team warned of a “critical” situation, forcing him to slow dramatically.
Still, the order held.
Final Results – McLaren Dominates
Oscar Piastri cruised to his third career win—and McLaren’s second victory of the season. Lando Norris held on to secure a one-two for the team, despite a late scare. George Russell completed the podium for Mercedes.
Verstappen finished a frustrated fourth, ahead of Leclerc and Hamilton. Esteban Ocon delivered a strong performance for Haas, finishing seventh. Antonelli and Albon followed, while Oliver Bearman claimed the final point for Haas.
Just outside the points, Pierre Gasly led Stroll, Sainz, and Hadjar—who gained a place post-race after Jack Doohan received a penalty. Racing Bulls’ gamble on strategy once again backfired, with Tsunoda and Bortoleto finishing at the back.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Piastri | McLaren | 1h31m |
| 02 | Norris | McLaren | +9.748 |
| 03 | Russell | Mercedes | +11.097 |
| 04 | Max | Red Bull | +16.656 |
| 05 | Leclerc | Ferrari | +23.211 |
| 06 | Hamilton | Ferrari | +25.381 |
| 07 | Ocon | Haas | +49.969 |
| 08 | Antonelli | Mercedes | +53.748 |
| 09 | Albon | Williams | +56.321 |
| 10 | Bearman | Haas | +61.303 |
| 11 | Gasly | Alpine | +67.195 |
| 12 | Stroll | A.Martin | +70.204 |
| 13 | Sainz | Williams | +76.387 |
| 14 | Hadjar | R.Bulls | +78.875 |
| 15 | Lawson | Red Bull | +81.147 |
| 16 | Doohan | Alpine | +88.401 |
| 17 | Bortoleto | Stake | +1 Lap |
| 18 | Hülk | Stake | +1 Lap |
| 19 | Tsunoda | R.Bulls | +1 Lap |
| 20 | Alonso | A.Martin | DNF |
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Piastri stuns in China as Norris, Russell chase hard
Piastri stuns in China as Norris, Russell chase hard
