In one of the most boring races in recent times, McLaren proved why they were considered by everyone to be the clear favorite before the season.
Oscar Piastri was able to start from the best position, and the Australian held on to the lead. Behind him, a serious battle raged, with George Russell and Lando Norris battling fiercely. In the end, Norris powerfully beat Russell and closed the gap to Piastri. Last year's champion, Max Verstappen, was less fortunate, losing two places and, with some exaggeration, disappearing into the field by the end of the race. Charles Leclerc was not so lucky; although his front wing was damaged in the tussle after the start, he was still faster than his seven-time world champion teammate.
Soon, the first announcement came on the radio: "Lewis, Charles is faster than you, let him pass," which Lewis Hamilton obeyed, albeit reluctantly. We also arrived at the first pit stops, but the overall picture of the race didn't change much after that: At the front, the McLaren duo were in the order Piastri and Norris, with Russell behind them on the podium. Further back, the two Haas drivers and Alexander Albon were moving promisingly on the hard tires, the latter clearly playing for a pit stop. As mentioned in the foreword, this wasn't the race of the season, to say the least, but the differing tactics produced some interesting battles here and there.
Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, who had shown promise all weekend and was aiming for the Red Bull seat, suffered a stroke of bad luck: a piece of his front wing broke off without physical contact, ending his chances of scoring points. The final significant moment came at the climax of the day, when Verstappen and Hamilton clashed and, invoking the spirit of 2021, fought hard in the corners for the position that ultimately became Holland's. That said, Oscar Piastri celebrated a commanding lights-to-flag victory at the soon-forgotten Chinese Grand Prix, overtaking Lando Norris and George Russell. Haas also deserves praise for a magnificent double points haul!
Photo: AP / F1
