Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless performance at the Shanghai International Circuit, securing victory in the Chinese Grand Prix and leading McLaren to a commanding one-two finish ahead of teammate Lando Norris. The Australian’s triumph marked his third career win and McLaren’s second consecutive victory in the 2025 season.
Starting from pole position, Piastri controlled the race from lights to flag, handling the strategic battle of one-stop versus two-stop strategies with precision. Despite Norris closing the gap in the latter stages, a developing brake issue forced the Briton to back off, ensuring a trouble-free finish for McLaren. “18 points is better than no points at all,” Norris was reminded over the radio as his team urged caution in the closing laps.
George Russell fought hard for Mercedes, briefly snatching second place during the pit stop phase, but Norris reclaimed the position with a bold move at Turn One. Russell kept the pressure on until the final lap, capitalizing on Norris’ braking struggles to finish within a second.
Max Verstappen, after a challenging sprint race, settled for fourth, overtaking Charles Leclerc in the closing stages. Leclerc had been one of the standout performers, managing an impressive pace despite carrying front-wing damage from an opening-lap clash with Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time champion, fresh off his sprint victory, opted for a two-stop strategy with his aggressive push yielding fastest laps but failing to disrupt the leading pack.
Further down the grid, Esteban Ocon delivered a stellar drive for Haas, securing seventh, while young talents Kimi Antonelli and Ollie Bearman also impressed by finishing inside the points. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso’s race ended early with brake trouble, highlighting Aston Martin’s ongoing struggles.
With Norris now leading the championship by nine points over Russell, and Piastri and Verstappen just one point further back, the battle for the 2025 title is heating up. McLaren has laid down a serious marker, one that could shift the balance of power at the front of the grid.
