The Chinese Grand Prix was a display of unrivaled prowess from McLaren’s Lando Norris, who put on a dominant performance, clocking an impressive 1:31.504 in FP1. This was a substantial lead of nearly half a second, effectively quelling the challenge posed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The initial stages of the race saw Mercedes’ George Russell in the limelight, showing promise on the medium Pirellis. However, the switch to soft tyres shifted the momentum in favour of McLaren and Ferrari, with Norris ultimately taking the lead.
This race marked the first Sprint weekend of the F1 2025 championship. The Shanghai International Circuit, freshly resurfaced, was a flurry of activity as drivers sought to make the most of the single practice hour.
Oliver Bearman was the first to take to the tracks, followed by a line of cars, including two Aston Martins. They bore a shamrock and Eddie Jordan’s name, a touching tributary gesture to the erstwhile F1 team boss who recently passed.
The event was not without its fair share of incidents. Alex Albon of Williams found himself off the circuit and into the gravel, reporting a loose object around the pedals. Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda also had their moments, with the latter remarking on the track’s increased grip.
As the race progressed, drivers headed out for a second run on the medium Pirellis. This saw Max Verstappen dealing with a major slide, Pierre Gasly grappling with incorrect switches, Carlos Sainz battling “bouncing and oversteering”, and Fernando Alonso wrestling with the wind.
Lewis Hamilton returned to the track after suspension changes to his Ferrari. His teammate, Charles Leclerc, managed to close the gap on Russell to a mere three-tenths but then ended up spinning into the gravel. Hamilton, too, faced issues, running wide on his way into the pits. His Mercedes replacement, Antonelli, reported tyre blistering.
The session ended prematurely for Jack Doohan, who reported a power steering issue and was instructed to exit the car. This brought out the red flags and paused the session. With only eight minutes left on the clock, the action resumed with all drivers on soft Pirellis.
Russell couldn’t up his pace after a moment at Turn 2, giving Ferrari and McLaren an opening. Leclerc initially took the lead, followed closely by Hamilton, only to be overtaken by Norris. The three were separated by a mere 0.092 seconds.
Despite being a powerhouse in the racing world, Verstappen found himself in the 16th position, unable to complete his flying lap on the soft tyres. This race served as a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of the F1 world, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats till the very end.
