Introduction
Oscar Piastri showcased unwavering resilience as he bounced back triumphantly from the disappointment of his late-race error at the 2025 season opener in Australia. The young driver turned adversity into triumph at the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, converting his pole position into a dominant victory, leading a McLaren 1-2 finish alongside teammate Lando Norris.
Piastri’s strategic brilliance was on full display as he controlled the 56-lap race at the Shanghai International Circuit from start to finish. In a race where the strategic choice between one or two pit stops played a crucial role, Piastri managed his pace flawlessly across two stints, building and maintaining a comfortable gap to Norris.
Norris, demonstrating impeccable teamwork, kept Piastri within striking distance despite facing late-race brake issues. McLaren’s pit wall managed the situation expertly, advising Norris to prioritize caution to secure the team’s flawless result.
Meanwhile, George Russell, starting behind due to a slow getaway, mounted a spirited challenge on Norris during the pit stop phase but ultimately settled for a commendable second place.
Max Verstappen, anticipating challenges following Red Bull’s Sprint race struggles, maintained fourth position throughout, maintaining a gap ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who collided on the opening lap.
Leclerc valiantly soldiered on with a damaged front wing, opting not to pit for repairs, while Hamilton pursued an aggressive two-stop strategy to recover lost ground, setting a series of fastest laps but falling short of a podium finish.
Further down the order, Esteban Ocon delivered a stellar performance to claim seventh for Haas, marking a significant turnaround after a challenging start to the season. Kimi Antonelli secured eighth for Mercedes, followed by Alex Albon of Williams and his teammate Ollie Bearman, who defended against strong challenges from Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll.
Carlos Sainz continued his adaptation at Williams with a 13th-place finish, while Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls crossed the line 14th after an eventful race involving a late incident with Jack Doohan, resulting in a penalty for the Alpine rookie.
Red Bull’s Liam Lawson struggled to 15th place, followed by Doohan, Gabriel Bortoleto, Nico Hulkenberg in the struggling Kick Saubers, and Yuki Tsunoda of Racing Bulls, who required an additional pit stop due to front wing damage. Fernando Alonso retired early from the race due to brake issues.
The post-race drama unfolded with disqualifications for Leclerc, Gasly, and Hamilton due to technical infringements, reshuffling the top ten and promoting Ocon, Antonelli, Albon, and Bearman into higher points-scoring positions while elevating Stroll and Sainz into the points-paying places.
READ MORE: Exclusive Interview with Enzo Mucci: The Driving Force Behind Rising Stars Bearman and Lawson
Mario Isola, Motorsport Director, Pirelli:
One of the key takeaways from this Grand Prix was the performance of the Hard compound on this circuit. Data collected over the first two days, particularly from the Sprint race, provided teams with valuable insights into adjusting car setups to protect the front axle, which was the most susceptible to graining. As the track evolved, graining on the Medium compound decreased compared to what was observed in the Sprint. However, for some teams, tyre wear remained a concern. Meanwhile, the Hard compound exhibited only limited graining and, more importantly, delivered consistent performance over extended stints. This allowed drivers to push aggressively in the closing laps, as demonstrated by Max Verstappen. When evaluating the C2 compound’s behaviour, it’s important to note that it has undergone the most significant modifications of any in the 2025 range, making it an unknown variable for all teams heading into the weekend.
Overall, the race provided an exhilarating spectacle on a track that, thanks to its surface characteristics, enabled significant performance improvements. Notably, today’s fastest race lap was 2.741 seconds quicker than last year’s, set under similar conditions. Lewis Hamilton posted this fastest lap on lap 41, compared to Fernando Alonso’s benchmark from lap 45 in the previous season. With the first double-header of the season now concluded, Formula 1 enters a short break before an intense triple-header on three distinctly different circuits. Each promises exciting racing, starting with Suzuka in early April.
The day on the track:
On the starting grid, 17 drivers opted for the Medium tyre for their first stint, while Lance Stroll and Oliver Bearman chose the Hard. Liam Lawson also started on the C2 compound but was forced to begin from the pit lane due to a penalty. Despite initial projections favouring a two-stop strategy, race conditions and tyre performance—especially concerning the Hard compound, which had not been used in the preceding two days—prompted most teams to switch to a one-stop approach. This strategic pivot added an extra layer of intrigue, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as teams adapted in real-time.
Those who started on the Medium tyre pitted for the C2 between laps 10 and 20, with Pierre Gasly the first to stop and Alex Albon and Nico Hülkenberg among the last. Meanwhile, the three drivers who began on the Hard compound ran varying stint lengths: Lawson pitted on lap 18, Bearman on lap 26, and Stroll extended his first stint until lap 36. Gabriel Bortoleto had an unconventional race strategy, making an early pit stop on the opening lap to switch to the Hard before taking on another set of C2s after 25 laps.
In the latter half of the race, the Hard tyre proved its worth, showing minimal degradation and enabling strong performance until the finish. Three drivers—Hamilton and both Racing Bulls—opted for a second stop, while the rest of the field committed to a one-stop strategy. Of the drivers who initially started on the Hard, both Stroll and Bearman switched to the Medium compound for their second stint, demonstrating the versatility of strategic choices throughout the race.
With its mix of evolving track conditions, strategic shake-ups, and impressive tyre resilience, this Grand Prix provided a fascinating showcase of team adaptability and performance under varying conditions. As the season progresses, the lessons learned here will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping future race strategies.
2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix Race Results
PosNoDriverCountryTeamTimePointsOverall
1.81Oscar PiastriAustraliaMcLaren Racing1:30:55.0262534
2.4Lando NorrisGreat BritainMclaren Racing+9.748s1844
3.63George RussellGreat BritainMercedes-AMG Petronas+11.097s1535
4.1Max VerstappenNetherlandsRed Bull Racing+16.656s1236
5.31Esteban OconFranceHaas F1 Team+49.969s1010
6.12Kimi AntonelliItalyMercedes-AMG Petronas+53.748s822
7.23Alexander AlbonThailandWilliams Racing+56.321s616
8.87Oliver BearmanGreat BritainHaas F1 Team+61.303s44
9.18Lance StrollCanadaAston Martin F1 Team+70.204s210
10.55Carlos SainzSpainWilliams Racing+76.387s11
11.6Isack HadjarFranceVisa Cash App F1 Team+78.875s00
12.30Liam LawsonNew ZealandRed Bull Racing+81.147s00
13.7Jack DoohanAustraliaAlpine F1 Team+88.401s00
14.5Gabriel BortoletoBrazilKick Sauber F1 Team+1 lap00
15.27Nico HulkenbergGermanyKick Sauber F1 Team+1 lap06
16.22Yuki TsunodaJapanVisa Cash App F1 Team+1 lap03
17.14Fernando AlonsoSpainAston Martin F1 TeamDNF00
8.16Charles LeclercMonacoScuderia FerrariDSQ08
10.44Lewis HamiltonGreat BritainScuderia FerrariDSQ09
11.10Pierre GaslyFranceAlpine F1 TeamDSQ00
2025 Constructor Standings
PosTeamPoints
1.McLaren Racing78
2.Mercedes-AMG Petronas57
3.Red Bull Racing36
4.Williams Racing17
5.Scuderia Ferrari17
6.Haas F1 Team14
7.Aston Martin F1 Team10
8.Kick Sauber F1 Team6
9.Visa Cash App F1 Team3
10.Alpine F1 Team0
Here are the team-by-team highlights:
