Fans were treated to a dramatic twist in the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix as McLaren’s Oscar Piastri cruised to a dominant victory while both Ferrari cars and Pierre Gasly were disqualified post-race, reshaping the final standings and injecting early chaos into the 24-race Formula 1 calendar.
The disqualifications (for weight and plank regulation breaches) stripped Ferrari of vital points and lifted George Russell to the podium behind Piastri and teammate Lando Norris. For McLaren, it marked their 50th one-two finish in Formula 1, and a much-needed rebound after a mixed outing in Australia.
Piastri controlled the race from pole, briefly losing the lead during pit stops, but never looked under threat. Norris, dealing with severe brake issues in the final laps, narrowly held off Russell’s charging Mercedes, finishing 9.7 seconds behind the Australian.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton originally finished fifth and sixth but were later disqualified. Leclerc’s car fell short of the minimum weight, while Hamilton’s failed a plank thickness check. Gasly’s Alpine was also removed from the results due to the same weight breach. Their removal promoted Esteban Ocon’s Haas to fifth and Max Verstappen to fourth, salvaging valuable points for Red Bull after a sluggish start.
McLaren’s Return to Glory
McLaren’s resurgence was the story of the day. Team Principal Andrea Stella praised the effort, saying, “Oscar was faultless. Lando was resilient. The team executed beautifully under pressure.” With strong pace and strategic maturity, the Woking-based outfit now looks poised to challenge Red Bull at the top.
It was an emotional win for Piastri, who called it “a weekend we deserved.” The 23-year-old’s third career victory solidifies his growing status as a championship contender in just his second full season.
Norris, whose brakes nearly failed in the closing laps, said: “It was tough, but we executed the one-stop strategy to perfection. We’re leaving China with critical points.”
Russell steady, Verstappen recovers
George Russell, finishing just two seconds behind Norris, continued Mercedes’ consistent start to the season. “It was the maximum we could do today,” he said, praising the team’s decision to commit to a one-stop strategy early on. Russell’s podium was Mercedes’ 300th in F1 history.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen struggled early on mediums, dropping positions, but recovered in the final stint on hard tyres to finish fourth. “The last 19 laps felt good again. It gives us something to build on,” he noted. Teammate Liam Lawson, starting from the pit lane, finished 12th.
Ferrari’s Costly Missteps
Ferrari’s weekend went from promising to devastating. Intra-team contact on lap one damaged Leclerc’s wing, yet he fought valiantly before his disqualification. Hamilton, racing on a two-stop strategy, never quite found the pace needed to break into the top four.
Team boss Fred Vasseur admitted, “It was a tough day. We had the pace, but the outcome is a hard lesson. We must do better.”
Other Highlights: Haas Impress, Williams Bounce Back
Haas secured double points with Ocon fifth and rookie Oliver Bearman eighth, while Williams’ Alex Albon celebrated his birthday with a P7 finish after briefly leading the race during a long opening stint. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was promoted to ninth, and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top 10.
What’s Next
Formula 1 returns in two weeks for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka; the first leg of a demanding triple-header. McLaren heads into it with renewed confidence, while Ferrari will seek redemption after a costly afternoon in Shanghai.
Read more on F1 2025: Lando Norris triumphs in rain-soaked Australian Grand Prix
