Oscar Piastri redeemed himself after a costly error in the previous race by securing a commanding victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, leading McLaren teammate Lando Norris to a triumphant one-two finish.
The Australian driver, who had started from pole position, maintained control throughout the 56-lap race at the Shanghai International Circuit, skillfully managing the gap to Norris and clinching the win in a composed performance that kickstarted his 2025 championship campaign.
The race unfolded as a strategic battle over pit stops, with most drivers, including the top five, opting for a single stop. Piastri executed his strategy flawlessly, while Norris, despite a late brake issue that prompted caution from the McLaren pit wall, held on to second place, securing the team’s perfect result. Mercedes’ George Russell briefly challenged Norris after losing ground at the start and reclaiming second during the pit stop window, but Norris’ pace proved sufficient to fend him off.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who had anticipated a tough weekend following a lackluster Sprint, finished fourth, just ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The Ferrari duo clashed dramatically on the opening lap, leaving Leclerc to nurse a damaged front wing—opting not to pit for a replacement—while Hamilton, the only leading driver to attempt a two-stop strategy, set blistering lap times but couldn’t recover the lost ground, settling for sixth.
Haas’ Esteban Ocon shone with a stellar seventh-place finish, a bright spot for the team after a challenging start to the season. He was followed by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli in eighth, with Williams drivers Alex Albon and Ollie Bearman rounding out the top ten, the latter narrowly edging out Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.
Further back, Williams’ Carlos Sainz endured another difficult outing in 13th as he adjusts to his new team, while Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar took 14th after a two-stop race marred by a late clash with Alpine rookie Jack Doohan, who received a penalty for the incident.
Red Bull’s Liam Lawson languished in 15th, ahead of Doohan, Kick Sauber’s struggling pair Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg, and Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda, who required a third stop due to front wing damage. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was an early retirement, sidelined by brake issues.
Formula 1 now heads to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix, scheduled for April 4-6, following a week’s break.