After starting from pole position for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri punched in a powerful drive to score his first Formula 1 victory of the season.
The McLaren driver would never relinquish his advantage over teammate Lando Norris as Piastri crossed the finish line 9.748 seconds clear.
It was a bit of redemption for Piastri, who claimed a disappointing ninth last week in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
“It’s been an incredible weekend from start to finish,” Piastri said. “The car’s been pretty mega the whole time. I think today was a bit of a surprise with how the tires behaved but just super proud of the whole weekend.
“This is what I feel like I deserved from last week, so [I’m] extremely happy. The team did a mega job, 1-2 obviously. Very, very happy.”
Despite questions of drivers electing for a one or two-stop strategy, the top-five finishers went with one as Mercedes’ George Russell claimed the final podium position in third.
Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen placed fourth ahead of Scuderia Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who initially place fifth and sixth.
However, F-1 officials later disqualified the Ferrari duo for car weight breaches. Hamilton’s car specifically was deemed illegal due to the plank assembly being below the permitted minimum thickness.
Pierre Gasly had initially placed 11th and suffered the same fate of Ferrari’s drivers.
The three disqualifications promoted Haas F-1’s Esteban Ocon to fifth, rookie phenom Kimi Antonelli sixth, Williams’ Alex Albon seventh, Haas F-1 rookie Ollie Bearman eighth, Lance Stroll ninth and Carlos Sainz in 10th.
First-year Red Bull Racing driver Liam Lawson struggled and finished 12th on the grid.
The series takes a week off before the Japanese Grand Prix, April 4-6.
