Chinese GP: Piastri and Norris dominate in Shanghai

Oscar Piastri turned the page on his late-race mishap from the 2025 season opener in Australia with a commanding performance at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday.

Converting pole position into a lights-to-flag victory, the young Aussie led McLaren to a triumphant 1-2 finish alongside teammate Lando Norris at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Piastri’s cool-headed drive in this 56-lap showdown was a statement of intent signaling that his title challenge is officially underway.

• 2025 Chinese Grand Prix - Race results

From the moment the lights went out, Piastri was untouchable. With the field buzzing about whether to gamble on a one-stop or two-stop strategy, he kept his focus razor-sharp, managing his pace and tyres like a seasoned veteran.

The result? A victory that never looked in doubt, and a McLaren garage erupting in papaya-fueled celebration.

The One-Stop Showdown

The pits were the real battleground in Shanghai, with most of the grid – Piastri included – opting for a single stop. Building a steady gap to Norris across their two stints, Piastri crossed the line with breathing room to spare.

Norris, meanwhile, shadowed his teammate, hovering around three seconds back in the closing laps. But drama struck late: a brake issue had McLaren’s pit wall barking at him to play it safe, ensuring the team’s dream result stayed intact.

George Russell, starting strong but slipping behind at the getaway, refused to let Norris cruise unchallenged. The Mercedes driver briefly snatched second during the pit-stop shuffle, only for Norris to flex McLaren’s superior pace and reclaim P2—brake woes and all.

Behind them, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull toiled as expected after a lackluster Sprint, settling for fourth, just ahead of a Ferrari duo with their own opening-lap fireworks.

First Lap Tangle at Ferrari

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton kicked off the race with a bang, literally. Their first-lap tangle left Leclerc limping on with a battered front wing, a gritty call to skip a pit stop keeping him in contention for fifth.

Hamilton, ever the maverick, went rogue with a two-stop strategy, blazing through with a string of fastest laps. But the clock ran out on his charge, leaving him sixth and ruing the extra time spent in the pits.

Further back, Esteban Ocon delivered a stunner for Haas, clawing to seventh after a torrid start to their 2025 campaign. Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli followed in eighth, while Williams’ Alex Albon and rookie Ollie Bearman rounded out the points, the latter fending off Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in a tense finale.

Struggles and Skirmishes

Not everyone basked in Shanghai’s glory. Carlos Sainz, still finding his feet at Williams, settled for 13th.

Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar took 14th after a scrappy two-stopper, marred by a late clash with Alpine’s Jack Doohan – who copped a penalty for his troubles.

Red Bull’s Liam Lawson languished in 15th, trailed by Doohan, the floundering Kick Sauber pair of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg, and a luckless Yuki Tsunoda, whose third pit stop for wing repairs capped a miserable day.

Fernando Alonso’s race ended prematurely, brakes betraying him in a rare DNF for the veteran.

Piastri’s Shanghai masterclass wasn’t just a win – it was a warning. With McLaren firing on all cylinders and the field scrambling to keep up, the 2025 season just got a whole lot spicier.

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