Lando Norris beaten as FIA issue late penalty at Chinese Grand Prix
Oscar Piastri Secures Dominant Win at the Chinese Grand Prix
Oscar Piastri put on a masterclass performance at the Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday, claiming a brilliant win at the Chinese Grand Prix. Starting from pole position for the first time in his Grand Prix career, the Australian driver was in complete control of the race, delivering a serene and dominant performance.
Piastri’s teammate, Lando Norris, also had a strong showing, fending off George Russell’s Mercedes with relative ease. Russell’s third-place finish was somewhat uneventful, as he struggled to keep pace with the McLaren duo. The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were unable to mount a significant challenge, with Leclerc missing a front wing endplate from the first corner.
However, Norris’s comfortable margin was eroded in the closing laps of the race, as he began to experience brake pedal issues. This allowed Russell to close the gap, and Norris was forced to defend his position. Despite struggling with his brakes, Norris managed to hold off Russell, securing a hard-fought second place.
Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc made a strong start, passing Max Verstappen into the first corner. The Ferrari duo seemed to be keeping the Red Bull driver at bay, until Hamilton opted for an off-sync two-stop strategy. This move was designed to take advantage of tyre degradation, but it ultimately failed to pay off.
Verstappen was able to catch up and pass Leclerc for fourth place with just a handful of laps remaining, reclaiming the position he had started the race in. This result marked a disappointing outcome for the Ferrari duo, who had shown promise early on.
At the opposite end of the field, Liam Lawson and Jack Doohan struggled to make an impact. Lawson finished ahead of only the two Saubers and Yuki Tsunoda, who was forced to make a late pit-stop due to a snapped front wing. Doohan, meanwhile, showed reasonable pace but was handed his second penalty in as many days for an incident with Isack Hadjar. This mistake dropped him down the order and did little to silence the calls for him to be replaced by Gabriel Bortoleto.
Piastri’s dominant win marked a highlight of the Chinese Grand Prix, showcasing his impressive skills and cementing his position as a top contender in the championship. As the season continues to unfold, Piastri will be looking to build on this momentum and secure more victories.
Doohan’s penalty also meant that Lawson was classified ahead of the Australian.
F1 Results: Chinese Grand Prix 2025
1. Oscar Piastri [McLaren]
2. Lando Norris [McLaren] – +9.748sec
3. George Russell [Mercedes] – +11.097sec
4. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – +16.656sec
5. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] – +23.211sec
6. Lewis Hamilton [Ferrari] – +25.381sec
7. Esteban Ocon [Haas] – +49.969sec
8. Kimi Antonelli [Mercedes] – +53.748sec
9. Alex Albon [Williams] – +56.321sec
10. Oliver Bearman [Haas] – +1:01.303sec
11. Pierre Gasly [Alpine] – +1:07.195sec
12. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] – +1:10.204sec
13. Carlos Sainz [Williams] – +1:16.387sec
14. Isack Hadjar [Racing Bulls] – +1:18.875sec
15. Liam Lawson [Red Bull] – +1:21.147sec
16. Jack Doohan [Alpine] – +1:28.401sec (with 10-second penalty)
17. Gabriel Bortoleto [Kick Sauber] – +1 lap
18. Nico Hulkenberg [Kick Sauber] – +1 lap
19. Yuki Tsunoda [Racing Bulls] – +1 lap
20. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin] – DNF
Who is the current F1 world champion?
Max Verstappen is the reigning F1 champion, won his fourth drivers’ championship last year.
