McLaren arrived at the Chinese GP looking to build momentum on Lando Norris’ win in Australia.
McLaren: A Weekend That Showcased the Team to Beat
A flawless performance was delivered by McLaren at the Chinese GP, securing a commanding one-two finish that firmly established their title fight this season. Oscar Piastri cruised to his maiden victory of the year, while Lando Norris battled through brake issues to complete a perfect weekend for the British team.
Friday: The Team to Beat?
McLaren started strongly in FP1, with Norris quickest and Piastri third.
That form continued into Sprint Qualifying, but a strategy gamble in SQ3 saw Piastri head out early for two flying laps. He later admitted this move might not have been ideal.
Despite this, heading into the Sprint, McLaren started P3 and P6. With their pace, there was plenty of opportunity to get ahead of the pack.
Saturday: Lessons Learnt in the Sprint
Starting P3, Piastri managed his tyres well around Shanghai’s high-grip circuit. A late move on Max Verstappen saw the Australian cross the line P2, earning his first podium of the season.
Reflecting on the run, Piastri said:
“It was a really productive Sprint – obviously finishing second is always a great result. But what’s encouraging is how we got there. We didn’t quite have enough for Lewis [Hamilton] but we’ve got some good ideas for this afternoon and tomorrow.” – Oscar Piastri via F1
For Norris, it was a Sprint to forget.
After a disastrous SQ3 left him starting P6, the Briton’s hopes of fighting forward faded early. A failed attempt to pass George Russell on lap one saw Norris run wide, dropping him to P9.
He spent much of the race behind Lance Stroll, eventually passing the Aston Martin late to claim the final point in P8.
Norris admitted:
“The first lap mistake didn’t help – that’s on me
“I didn’t really have any pace after that. I struggled a lot in these conditions with front graining – it’s like my worst nightmare.” – Lando Norris via F1
After his victory in Melbourne, Norris looked to regroup quickly ahead of Grand Prix qualifying, while Piastri’s confidence set McLaren up for a fascinating fight at the front.
READ MORE: Chinese GP: Lewis Hamilton’s Resurgence, Oscar Piastri’s Triumph, and More
Saturday: The Title Contenders Locked In
Piastri stunned the paddock in Shanghai by clinching his maiden pole position after a tense Qualifying session.
The Australian edged out Russell and teammate Norris in a thrilling Q3 shootout.
While Norris looked strong early on – topping both Q1 and Q2 with commanding pace – it was Piastri who found his rhythm when it mattered most.
Despite admitting to struggling through the initial phases of Qualifying, Piastri pieced together a lap of 1m 30.641s in the final moments of Q3.
That time proved enough to seal P1, beating Russell by 0.082s and leaving Norris to settle for third.
Norris, the benchmark in the middle sector throughout the session, could not improve on his earlier best of 1m 30.793s during his final run.
A push lap that was ultimately abandoned saw him slot in behind Piastri and Russell, despite the Briton having topped Q2 by almost half a second.
Both McLaren drivers delivered remarkable performances, with Piastri showing incredible composure to extract peak performance when it counted most.
His pole marks a major milestone in his F1 career and underlines McLaren’s growing strength as the season unfolds.
Norris, meanwhile, went into the GP knowing he had the pace to fight, especially given his commanding form earlier in the session.
Sunday: A Display of Dominance
From lights out, Piastri dominated. Aside from the pit stop phase, the Australian led every lap around the Shanghai International Circuit, showcasing composure and pace.
As he squeezed Russell down to Turn 1, Norris swept around the outside and moved into second. It was an ideal start for McLaren at a track where track position is vital.
However, the race was far from straightforward for Norris. During the only round of pit stops for the leaders, Russell managed to undercut the McLaren driver.
Despite this, Norris, displaying the determination we have come to expect from the Briton, reclaimed second place almost immediately with a bold move down the inside into Turn 1.
This determination saw Norris begin to close the gap with Piastri, reducing the deficit to five seconds. Still, McLaren’s strategy prevailed, as Norris was soon asked to manage his tyres, preventing any late-race drama at the front.
Nevertheless, the closing stages brought a fresh challenge. With six laps remaining, Norris reported a “long pedal,” a clear sign of brake issues.
He managed the situation, maintaining just enough of a margin to keep Russell at bay. The Brit crossed the line 1.3 seconds clear of the Mercedes driver, securing key points in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.
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A Promising Weekend
Speaking of the weekend, Piastri noted:
“It’s been an incredible weekend from start to finish. The car’s been pretty mega the whole time. I think today was a bit of a surprise with how differently the tyres behaved.
“I’m just so proud of the whole weekend. This is what I feel like I deserved from last week. The team did a mega job with the one-two. I’m very happy.
“On the medium it was still a bit tricky but much better than yesterday, and then the hard was a much better tyre than everyone expected, or certainly than we expected.
“To go all the way to the end like that was a bit of a surprise, but a happy surprise.” – Oscar Piastri via Sky Sports
Norris shared similar sentiments:
“A few fun moments. The start, I was hoping for exactly that, so Turn 1 went to plan. Then George got me on the pit stops. I was a little bit nervous but our pace was a lot better in the second stint.
“So a tough race just with the management. I don’t think many people expected a one-stop today so it was good and Oscar drove well, he was quick the whole race.
“Tried to get close but in the end just couldn’t. He deserved the win and drove very well all weekend. I’m happy with second, it’s good points and great points for us as a team with a one-two. Just how we wanted the race to go.” – Lando Norris via Sky Sports
What Next?
It remains clear that McLaren is the team to beat in 2025. With Norris and Piastri sitting on one Grands Prix win each, we are heading towards an exciting fight between the teammates.
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Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto
Recording Date: 23.03.2025
