Oscar Piastri clinched a dominant victory at the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, leading a McLaren one-two finish with teammate Lando Norris taking second place. Despite the thrilling performance from McLaren, post-race drama unfolded as Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified, casting a shadow over an otherwise impressive day for the Scuderia.
McLaren’s Masterclass: Piastri’s First Win in China
Piastri, starting from pole, put on an exemplary display, commanding the race from start to finish. His smooth, error-free performance earned him his first victory in China and the third of his F1 career, continuing his impressive ascent in just his second season. McLaren’s 1-2 finish marked their 50th in Formula 1 history and their first win in Shanghai since 2011.
Behind Piastri, Mercedes’ George Russell secured third, although he finished a full 11 seconds behind the McLarens. Max Verstappen recovered from an early off-track moment to finish fourth. However, the post-race drama overshadowed the action as both Leclerc and Hamilton, who crossed the line in fifth and sixth, were disqualified following technical infractions.
Ferrari Faces Disqualification Blow
The disqualifications were handed down after the FIA discovered that the skid blocks on Hamilton’s car were below the required legal thickness, while Leclerc’s car was found to be underweight. Pierre Gasly’s Alpine was also found to be underweight, resulting in his exclusion from the results as well.
Ferrari has yet to comment on the incident, but the disqualifications dealt a significant blow to Hamilton, who is still settling into his new team. While the infractions were relatively minor, they highlighted the fine margins within which F1 teams operate, particularly when chasing optimal performance.
McLaren’s Rising Strength
McLaren’s pace in the 2025 season is becoming undeniable. After a strong performance in Australia, their advantage was once again evident in Shanghai. Norris, despite facing a brake issue in the final laps, managed his car well enough to secure second place, maintaining his lead in the drivers’ championship with 44 points. Verstappen follows in second with 36 points, Russell is in third with 35 points, and Piastri now sits fourth with 34 points.
McLaren’s strategy, tire management, and the strong performances of both Piastri and Norris have placed them in an excellent position to challenge for the title this season. Their consistent performances and the reliability of their cars have made them the team to watch.
Key Moments from the Race
Piastri’s clean start allowed him to maintain the lead into Turn 1, while Norris executed a bold move to overtake Russell and claim second place. Early contact between Leclerc and Hamilton, which caused damage to Hamilton’s front wing, highlighted the tense nature of the race. Verstappen, after going off track, dropped to sixth but soon began his recovery.
Pit stops began on lap 14, with Hamilton and Verstappen opting for hard tires. Piastri and Russell followed suit a lap later. Norris extended his stint and briefly lost position to Russell after an undercut strategy, but quickly regained his place. Mid-race, Ferrari executed a position swap, letting Leclerc pass Hamilton on lap 21.
By the halfway point, Piastri maintained a three-second buffer over Norris, who was careful to avoid Piastri’s dirty air to protect his tires. Hamilton pitted again on lap 38, while others attempted a one-stop strategy, stretching their tires longer.
Piastri’s strategy paid off as he comfortably managed to finish the race without further complications. Norris, despite the brake issue, held on to second. Verstappen, after conserving his tires, found late race pace and passed Leclerc for fourth, just before Leclerc was disqualified.
Final Standings After Post-Race Disqualifications
With Hamilton, Leclerc, and Gasly removed from the official results, Esteban Ocon was promoted to fifth place. Kimi Antonelli finished sixth, and rookie Ollie Bearman impressed with a seventh-place finish for Haas.
The final standings were as follows:
- 1st: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- 2nd: Lando Norris (McLaren)
- 3rd: George Russell (Mercedes)
- 4th: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 5th: Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
- 6th: Kimi Antonelli (Aston Martin)
- 7th: Ollie Bearman (Haas)
- 8th: Alex Albon (Williams)
- 9th: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- 10th: Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
A Title Fight Beyond Red Bull
Piastri’s win and McLaren’s consistent speed suggest the team is no longer just a challenger but a serious title contender. With Norris and Piastri driving at the front, the 2025 championship battle is heating up, with McLaren poised to take on Red Bull for dominance in Formula 1.
As the season progresses, McLaren’s strong showing in China marks them as a team to watch. With the season still young, it will be exciting to see if they can continue this momentum and challenge for both the driver’s and constructor’s championships.
