'
With one Grand Prix already checked off, many expected to see the first signs of a performance hierarchy forming between the ten drivers and 20 teams in the 2025 F1 World Championship. Well, the Chinese Grand Prix certainly helped establish a rough pecking order, but it also threw up some unlikely heroes and unexpected disappointments in equal measure. Let’s delve into F1i’s Driver Ratings - Shanghai edition.
Pierre Gasly, Alpine (Disqualified) 6/10
Alpine F1 Team appeared to lack fundamental pace around the Shanghai International Circuit. Gasly, who qualified in the top ten for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, failed to make it out of the first part of Qualifying for both the Sprint race and the main race. The Frenchman somewhat redeemed himself by making up five places in just 19 laps during the Sprint, although this still wasn’t enough for points. An early pitstop for hard tyres on lap 11 during the Grand Prix itself worked somewhat, but it still wasn’t enough to enter the top ten. Either way, Gasly was subsequently disqualified for having an underweight car after the race.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari (Disqualified) 7/10
A tale of two halves for the seven-time World Champion. He appeared to have mastered the long turns of the Chinese circuit on Friday, placing his Ferrari on pole for the Sprint and duly converting it into victory in dominant fashion on the Saturday. After a shaky start to life at the Maranello-based outfit, Hamilton looked like he had found his feet at his new team. But Sunday turned out a lot differently, as he had teammate Leclerc nipping at his heels despite the former suffering damage to his front wing endplate on the opening lap of the Grand Prix. Hamilton was eventually forced to swap positions with Leclerc on lap 21, and fell away slightly thereafter. He was one of only three drivers to try out a purposeful two-stop strategy, which didn’t work as Verstappen had too much pace to present a re-overtaking opportunity for the Ferrari man. The veteran was disqualified after the race for a different infringement: excessive wear on his underfloor plank.
