Chinese Grand Prix: Editor’s Top/Flop

The Tops

1-Oscar Piastri’s victory and the McLaren one-two

The McLaren single-seaters are proving more threatening than ever. After Lando Norris’s victory in Australia, it’s now Oscar Piastri’s turn to shine in China, dominating the race from start to finish after securing his first pole position and a second place in the sprint race. An excellent comeback after his mistake in Melbourne which relegated him to 9th position. Meanwhile, Lando Norris confirmed the team’s great form by finishing second, despite brake issues at the end of the race. McLaren thus achieves its first one-two finish of the season and marks the 50th in its history.

2 – Esteban Ocon’s First Points with Haas

After a complicated weekend in Melbourne, Esteban Ocon managed to bounce back in China. Starting 11th on the grid, he once again demonstrated his talent in tire management. Mastering his one-stop strategy perfectly, he crossed the line in 7th position before being reclassified to 5th following disqualifications. An encouraging result marking the real start of his season with the American team, also pleased with the 10th place achieved by rookie Ollie Bearman. **A great operation for Haas in China.**

3-Convincing Mercedes in China

George Russell a décroché une troisième place précieuse, offrant à l’écurie son 300e podium en Formule 1. Son coéquipier, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, a terminé juste derrière en quatrième position, confirmant son bon début de saison en tant que rookie. Grâce à ces performances, l’équipe allemande se hisse à la deuxième place du classement des constructeurs avec 57 points, derrière McLaren et ses 78 unités. Toto Wolff, directeur de l’écurie, s’est montré satisfait des progrès accomplis, soulignant une meilleure compréhension du comportement de la monoplace et une plus grande stabilité. Mercedes confirme sa montée en puissance et s’affirme comme une force incontournable dans la lutte aux avant-postes.

The Flops

Disqualification for both Ferrari drivers

The weekend had started off quite well, and Lewis Hamilton could have been on top; he shone during the sprint by defeating Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. Thanks to optimal tire management and a strong pace, he offered Ferrari a valuable victory, proving that the SF-25 was performing well in short races. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc finished fourth, gaining valuable points for the team. But this positive momentum didn’t last. In the main race, Leclerc and Hamilton finished fifth and sixth, respectively, before being disqualified for technical irregularities. The Monegasque’s car was one kilogram too light, while the Briton’s did not meet flat-bottom wear standards. These penalties deprived Ferrari of 18 points, now placing them tied with Williams in the constructors’ standings. Despite the satisfaction of the sprint, this Chinese Grand Prix remains a major setback for Ferrari, which will need to correct course to stay in the fight for the top spots.

2-The weekends come one after another… and look the same for Liam Lawson

After a difficult weekend in Australia, which could be attributed to his learning phase at Red Bull, New Zealander Liam Lawson once again disappointed in China. Although Christian Horner defended his young driver after Melbourne, stating that it would be unfair to judge him based on his initial performances, the tone has changed at Red Bull before the Chinese Grand Prix. Helmut Marko, the team’s advisor, expressed his dissatisfaction: “This cannot continue. We will analyze the situation in detail and take appropriate measures,” he stated before Sunday’s race. Unfortunately for Liam Lawson, his performance in China did not help change Marko’s opinion. He must quickly respond in order to try to keep his seat at Red Bull.

Read also: Liam Lawson and the Second Red Bull Syndrome

3-No points scored for Alpine yet in 2025

The French team is going through a difficult period, being the only team yet to score a single point after two races. Pierre Gasly, for the second consecutive time, finished in a frustrating eleventh place, just outside the points. But his disappointment didn’t stop there, as, like the Ferrari drivers, he was also disqualified after the race. This situation highlights the challenges the team is currently facing, struggling to regain the competitiveness needed to achieve positive results.