23/03/2025
NEWS STORY
Hard to believe, but after just one race a number of drivers are already battling to save their seats.
Thankfully, the Weather Gods are unlikely to interfere today, and starting from the back of the grid they have the benefit of being unlikely to get embroiled in any first lap disasters.
Being an F1 driver is hard enough as it is, but with the added pressure of social media it is becoming even harder. Then again there are the financial pressures of the championship standings, not to mention the seemingly endless queue of young hopefuls rising through the ranks.
Having made changes to his suspension overnight, Lawson, who qualified last, will start from the pitlane.
As we said, the weather is expected to be good today, however the big question mark concerns the tyres. As witnessed throughout the weekend, and especially during the Sprint, tyre deg is a big concern, especially to the front-left.
It was because (Sprint) pole-man Hamilton held on to the lead at the start yesterday, and wasn't caught behind anyone else, that he was able to avoid any significant deg. While the track has been resurfaced since last year, it is taking its toll on the rubber, and nost of the field struggled to complete the full 19 laps yesterday.
With that in mind the battle to be first at the end of Lap 1 will be vital. However, first comes that never-ending opening corner and the natural 'funnelling' of the field.
While we focus on the likes of Lawson and Doohan, it is those at the front and mid-grid who face early elimination, and consequently it is important not just who leads at the end of Lap 1 but who survives it.
The McLarens have the pace, but so too does the Mercedes, as shown by Russell - who was faster on the straight than Piastri yesterday - and then there are the Ferraris, where Leclerc will be seeking to re-establish himself.
Whatever happens, though his car doesn't have the pace, Verstappen will be there. However, without the help of a wingman he will be on his own, which also affects Red Bull in terms of the team title.
Other than those drivers whose seats are at risk, a number of others need to make up for last week, and in this case we're looking particularly at Sainz - who is having a difficult start with Williams - and Alonso, while Hadjar has the opportunity to put a smile on Helmut Marko's face.
Here, and for much of the season, we expect the real fun and games to involve the McLaren pairing, both of whom are highly talented and hungry for success. We have seen numerous examples over the last couple of seasons, and one cannot help but feel that sooner or later it will end in tears. Successfully managing the pair will not be easy, but then again the Woking team has experience. That said, that was under different management and it remains to be seen if Stella and Brown can pull it off.
In terms of strategy, the level of degradation leads Pirelli to suggest that a two-stop is obligatory, featuring the medium and the hard.
Although the soft is fairly close to the medium in terms of performance, Pirelli doesn't think it's a valid choice, even if it could offer more grip off the start line. In fact, those starting near the back might go for the hards in order to extend their first stint as long as possible, before making up places in the run of pit stops.
Finally, despite the best efforts of the director, we see that vast swathes of grandstands remain empty, while those fans that are attending are spread out evenly to create the impression of a good crowd.
In the first days of the grand prix here, local school children, students and others were bussed in in order to create the look of a crowd... call us sceptical, but the endless close ups of screaming girls this weekend leads us to feel that China has not yet been won over by the sport.
Ahead of the drivers' parade, they all gathered on the grid to pay tribute to Eddie Jordan, as the sport continues to remember the popular Irishman who passed away on Thursday.
The pitlane opens and Verstappen heads out, followed by Sainz, Hamilton, Bortoleto and Lawson.
Air temperature is 28degrees C, while the track temperature is 42 degrees. It is fairly overcast and quite windy. There is a 10% chance of rain.
Albon, Tsunoda and Bortoleto have all been noted for practice start infringements. Hulkenberg also, all incidents to be investigated after the race.
All are starting on mediums bar Stroll, Bearman and Lawson who are on hards. All are on fresh rubber bar Alonso.
"Just try and work on the normal things, try and manage the tyres a bit better and see what we can do," says Piastri ahead of the start. "Everyone learned from the Sprint, so everyone is a bit wiser this afternoon which will make it a tough one."
"One stop, two stop or one of each for each driver, but it is a tyre dependent race," adds Zak Brown. "The effect of the dirty air is quite big, so worried about George, worried about Max and yesterday the Ferraris had a great Sprint, so worried about them too," he admits.
With the hards not having been used thus far this weekend, all eyes will be on those three drivers starting on the white-banded rubber.
The field heads off on the formation lap, all get away cleanly.
The grid slowly forms.
They're away! Russell gets the slightly better start than Piastri, as the Australian moves over to cover the Briton. To his left, Norris is charging, as he holds off Verstappen and the Ferraris.
Piastri leads into Turn 1 as Norris goes around the outside of Russell, as Verstappen loses out to Hamilton and then Leclerc as he struggles for grip. Just behind, the RB pair battle with Antonelli.
However, as Leclerc passed Verstappen and closed on his Ferrari teammate, Hamilton moved back on to the racing line and the pair touched damaging the Monegasque's front wing.
"I've been hit by someone," says Hamilton, unaware that it was his own teammate.
Further back, Bortoleto has spun off into the gravel at Turn 8 and flat-spotted his tyres in the process
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Piastri, Norris, Russell, Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Antonelli, Tsunoda, Hadjar and Ocon. Verstappen has dropped two places, as has Hadjar, while Gasly is up three to 13th. Hulkenberg ran wide and dropped 7 places.
"Charles has a broken front wing," reports Verstappen.
Double yellows are waved as a result of debris on the track as Leclerc is warned that he has lost 20 to 30 points of downforce at the front. "If we can survive we wait until first stop," he is told.
"Brake on fire... Alonso," warns Gasly as the Spaniard slows and heads to the pits. "I cannot brake, no brakes," he informs his team.
After 4 laps, Piastri leads his teammate by 0.9s, with Russell a further 0.8s behind and 1.5s clear of Hamilton. Leclerc is managing to hold on to his teammate's tail.
Verstappen has dropped 3s behind Leclerc, while Tsunoda, currently 8th, heads a DRS train of 6 cars, including his RB teammate who is keen to pass.
"I want to use my fronts," urges the Japanese driver as Hamilton warns of front-left graining.
"I'm starting to struggle, left-front," admits Norris.
Told about his tyres, Albon insists that he is "comfortable". The Thai driver is currently 11th, just 0.7s down on Ocon. Teammate Sainz is 14th.
Despite his lack of downforce, Leclerc is lapping at the same pace as his Ferrari teammate.
"We are on Plan B," Leclerc is told. "If it stays like this I want Plan A," he responds.
Gasly pits at the end of Lap 10, rejoining in 18th on hards.
"Too much traffic, so we stick to Plan B," Leclerc is told.
"Do you think we can make Plan C target lap," Piastri is asked. "I think so," he replies.
Tsunoda, Ocon and Doohan all pit at the end of Lap 11, all switching to the white-banded rubber.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Shanghai here.
2.4s down on Russell, Hamilton has Leclerc hard on his heels.
Antonelli and Hadjar pit as Ocon loses out to Gasly during the stops. However, the Haas driver retakes the position.
The undercut works for Tsunoda who is now up to 13th again.
Hamilton pits at the end of Lap 13 which releases his teammate. Verstappen also stops. They rejoin in 10th (Hamilton) and 12th.
"I think it's going to go one-stop," reports Russell. "Box, box," he is told as Piastri also stops.
They rejoin in 4th (Piastri) and 8th.
Antonelli passes Antonelli on the pit straight for 14th, taking to the grass in the process.
Norris and Leclerc both pit at the end of Lap 15, Norris rejoins behind a battling Stroll and Russell. Leclerc seemingly did not change his front wing.
Russell makes short work of the Aston Martin but it takes the McLaren driver a couple more corners.
As Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (37.322), Albon leads though he has yet to stop.
Behind Albon, it's: Piastri, Russell, Norris, Stroll, Sainz, Hamilton, Leclerc, Bearman, Verstappen and Lawson. Stroll, Sainz and Bearman still to stop.
Norris storms past Russell at the start of Lap 18 as Sainz pits and Piastri passes Albon for the lead.
Once again, Leclerc is pressurising his Ferrari teammate.
While Hamilton passes Stroll, Leclerc struggles, losing precious time.
Lawson pits at the end of Lap 18, rejoining in 18th on mediums.
Hamilton admits that he's struggling again and holding up his teammate.
Norris passes Albon for second.
"We are swapping cars in Turn 14," Hamilton is told. "OK, when he's closer," he replies.
Albon finally pits at the end of Lap 20, as Hamilton lets his teammate through to take 4th.
Having pitted, Hulkenberg is now running 19th (last) 14s down on his Stake teammate.
After 21 laps, all bar Stroll and Bearman have stopped.
"This is a shame, the pace is there," says Leclerc.
Albon passes Gasly for 13th as Leclerc closes on Russell.
Stroll and Bearman battling for 7th, both yet to stop.
"Give me something, I need feedback," urges Hamilton. Given feedback, he says: "You told me that already!"
Bearman locks-up as he passes Stroll at the hairpin. Running too deep he loses the position again.
"The Mercedes is a dragster out of Turn 12," says Leclerc. "Unbelievable!"
Sainz goes around the outside of Doohan to claim 15th.
As Hamilton drops 2.5s behind his Ferrari teammate, Leclerc closes to within 0.5s of Russell.
Bearman feels that Stroll is weaving on the main straight. "Let's take some action," he urges his team.
Bearman pits at the end of Lap 26, rejoining in 17th on mediums. Bortoleto makes his second stop of the afternoon.
Lap 27 sees Norris post a new fastest lap (36.754).
"We'd like to use some of that pace up, please," Norris is urged. "I don't want to push into the dirty air of Oscar again," he replies.
"We've asked for the car ahead (Piastri) to help you," Norris is told, his team fearing the undercut from Russell or the Ferraris.
On fresh rubber, Bortoleto posts a new fastest lap (35.874).
Replay shows a wobble at the hairpin for Leclerc.
Bearman makes easy work of Lawson who subsequently pits.
Clearly struggling, Leclerc has dropped 2.1s behind Russell.
"Go for Plan C," Norris is told. "Can you tell him to speed up, I'm in his dirty air," complains the Briton.
Bearman passes Doohan for 15th as Lawson passes Hulkenberg for 17th.
"So far, the hard looks like it's robust," Norris is told, "George, behind, has been told he's going to the end."
Hadjar pits at the end of Lap 33, rejoining in 16th.
"This phase of the race is all about patience," Norris is told.
"Small risk of rain, last 3 laps, Class 1," Norris is advised.
Tsunoda makes his second stop at the end of Lap 35, the RB driver rejoining the race in 15th, just ahead of his teammate who has just posted a new fastest lap (35.868).
"Good pace Max, better late than never, twenty laps remaining, c'mon," Verstappen is told, as Stroll finally pits. The Canadian rejoins in 14th.
Hamilton pits at the end of Lap 37, rejoining in 6th, just ahead of Ocon, on hards.
Having passed Sainz, Bearman is in pursuit of Gasly.
"I see the first signs of graining," admits Norris is told that his (front-left)wear is worse than Piastri and Russell.
"How's the tyre, can we do Plan A?" Piastri is asked. "I think we can go to the end," he replies.
Gasly retakes 10th from Bearman, but the Haas driver isn't having it. Both Haas drivers are in the points.
Lap 40 sees a new fastest lap from Hamilton (35.487), as he remains 17s behind Verstappen.
"This is top pace now Max, keep going." The Dutchman is 3.8s down on Leclerc.
The RB pair, who are both on a two-stopper, are closing on 14th placed Doohan.
Stroll makes a bold move on Sainz in Turn 1 to claim 12th.
4.5s down on his teammate, Norris is clearly beginning to struggle.
"Keep it up Max, we don't know what's going to happen at the end."
Under pressure from Bearman, Albon posts a PB.
After 46 laps, of 56, it's, Piastri, Norris (+ 4.6s), Russell (+ 4.7s), Leclerc (+ 4.9a), Verstappen (+ 3.2s), Hamilton (+ 15.5s), Ocon (+ 13.1s), Antonelli (+ 2.2s), Albon (+ 2.5s) and Bearman (+ 2.9s).
Piastri warned of possible Class 1 (and a half!!!) on final lap.
Tsunoda is about to lose his (right) front wing. Having been passed by his RB teammate he pits. Like us, he is mystified as to how the wing was damaged.
Replay shows the wing simply broke under strain on the pit straight.
"My brake pedal is going a bit long," warns Norris. "A lot longer," he stresses.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Shanghai here.
The stewards are looking at the Hadjar move on Doohan, in terms of forcing another driver off track.
Hamilton is now 13s down on Verstappen who continues to set a strong pace as he closes to within 2s of Leclerc.
Doohan and Hadjar continue to scrap for 14th.
"The brake pedal will continue to get long," Norris is warned. "You have to be cautious on the brakes." Now 3.19s down on his teammate, the Briton has Russell 5s behind.
Hadjar complains that Doohan is making his moves very late.
Indeed, the Australian is given a 10s penalty for forcing the RB driver off track.
"Main loss Turns 8 and 9," Leclerc is told. "I know, I know, you tell me all the time," he replies.
With 5 laps remaining, Verstappen has closed to within 0.4s of Leclerc.
"Lando, you need to ease your brake pressure."
Leclerc refuses to take no for an answer as he nails Leclerc, despite the Monegasques best efforts to resist.
Next up for the Dutchman, however the 6.1s gap to the Mercedes appears to be too much.
Hadjar attempts to replicate Verstappen's move on Doohan, but the Australian holds station.
"The brake situation has been getting critical," Norris is warned.
Piastri begins his final lap 7.5s ahead of his teammate.
The Australian takes the flag, while Norris manages to hold off a charging Russell to claim McLaren's fiftieth 1-2, while for Mercedes I is the German team's 300th podium.
Verstappen is fourth, ahead of Leclerc, Hamilton, Ocon, Antonelli, Albon and Bearman.
Gasly is eleventh, ahead of Gasly, Stroll, Sainz, Hadjar, Doohan, Lawson, Bortoleto, Hulkenberg and Tsunoda.
While Doohan was able to hold off Hadjar, that 10 penalty dropped him behind, nonetheless RB's 2-stop strategy clearly didn't work.
"It's a great result, finishing P3," says Russell. "We knew McLaren were a smidge quicker than us, but more crucial points.
"I felt it from quite early on that a one-stop was possible," he adds, "and it turned out easier than we thought possible. It turned out as one of my best weekends in F1."
"The start I was hoping for," adds Norris, "but then George got me in the pit stops.
"I was a little nervous, but we were better in the second stint," he continues. "Oscar drove well, he deserved the win.
"I'm happy with second, good points and great points for the team with a 1-2.
"The brake pedal was my worst nightmare," he admits, "I was losing 2, 3, 4 seconds the last two laps. It was scary but we made it to the end."
"It's been an incredible weekend, the car has been pretty mega," says Piastri.
"Today was a surprise, how differently the tyres behaved. This feels like what I deserved from last week.
"Very, very happy just... very happy," he smiles.
"The hard was a much better tyre than everyone expected, so to go all the way to the end was a bit of a surprise, but a happy surprise."
"You did really well here to block me off a bit," Russell tells Piastri in the cool down room.
"Oh," cry the podium finishers as they watch Leclerc collide with his Ferrari teammate.
"He did really well from there," says Russell, referring to the Monegasque's broken wing.
Hardly a thriller, but it had its moments, just a pity about Alonso's brakes and RB's wrong call on strategy.
As for Lawson and Doohan, whether they've done enough to please the Lord High Executioner remains to be seen, but it seems entirely wrong to judge them after just two outings.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Shanghai here.