On Sunday, March 23, 2025, Oscar Piastri of McLaren won the Chinese Grand Prix after starting from pole position for the first time in his career, leading almost the entire race.
Piastri’s achievement marked a significant milestone in McLaren’s history as they celebrated their 50th one-two finish in Formula 1, with his teammate Lando Norris finishing second. Norris was in good form despite struggling with brake issues during the latter part of the race.
During the race, Piastri exhibited exceptional control, having secured the best qualifying time on Saturday, March 22, 2025. With a tremendous start, he entered the first corner in first place, followed closely by Norris, who managed to overtake the Mercedes driver George Russell to secure his position.
As the race progressed, Piastri expanded his lead, culminating in his third career victory after previous wins in Hungary and Azerbaijan last season. “It’s always a very good day when you cross the finish line first, but what’s most satisfying for me, beyond the race, is the whole weekend itself,” stated Piastri, who now sits fourth in the drivers' championship, just 10 points behind Norris, the current leader.
Norris had a challenging race himself, stating, “The brake pedal was my worst nightmare,” as he struggled with mechanical issues late in the race, causing him to lose significant time against his teammate. Despite those difficulties, he was pleased with the outcome. “I’m happy with the result for the team with the 50th double for McLaren,” he added.
George Russell, securing a podium spot in third place, was delighted as well, marking his 300th career podium in F1. “In the last three races, counting the sprint, we’ve achieved our best possible results, so I’m very satisfied,” Russell remarked, confident that Mercedes can compete more closely with McLaren in future races.
The reigning champion, Max Verstappen of Red Bull, finished fourth, managing to overtake Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc late in the race. Leclerc was affected early on due to a collision with his teammate Lewis Hamilton, which damaged his front wing and disrupted his race. Leclerc ultimately finished fifth, while Hamilton, who won the sprint race the day before, claimed sixth place but was later disqualified due to non-compliance issues with his car.
Lance Stroll, representing Aston Martin, finished in 12th position but moved up to ninth due to the disqualification of Leclerc and Hamilton. Stroll expressed disappointment, stating, “We had some good battles on track, but ultimately we lacked speed.” His teammate, Fernando Alonso, faced a difficult race, retiring early due to overheating brakes.
The next race is set to occur in two weeks at the Japanese Grand Prix on April 6, 2025, marking the beginning of a busy stretch that will include three races on consecutive weekends.
This Grand Prix weekend also paid tribute to former team owner Eddie Jordan, who recently passed away. Drivers observed a minute of silence in his honor.
In conclusion, Piastri’s victory and McLaren’s dominance in the Chinese Grand Prix showcased their competitive edge in the current Formula 1 season. With the championship heating up and more races ahead, fans can anticipate an exciting battle in the coming weeks.
