Tough Sprint for Norris as tyre woes strike in China; Piastri secures P2

Dominika Jordan
Mar 22, 2025, 12:59 AM ET

In a challenging Sprint session at the Shanghai International Circuit, McLaren's Lando Norris faced significant adversity, largely attributed to tyre management issues on the newly resurfaced track. After dominating the season opener in Melbourne, Norris's performance hit a snag in China, starting with a misstep in Sprint Qualifying that placed him in P6, despite a promising run for pole position.

Norris's fortunes took a further dip during the 19-lap Sprint as an early maneuver to overtake George Russell's Mercedes ended with him dropping a wheel in the dirt, slipping back to P9. Although he managed to claw back to P8 by overtaking Lance Stroll, his struggles with tyre degradation were evident throughout the race.

Reflecting on the race, Norris admitted, "I just went in a bit hot so [that's] on me," acknowledging that his first-lap mistake compounded the tyre issues hindering his pace. The Briton commented on the challenging conditions, saying, "I struggle a lot in these conditions with the front graining – it's like my worst nightmare."

While Norris grappled with a tough Sprint, his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri celebrated his first podium of the season by finishing second. Executing a well-timed overtake on Max Verstappen, Piastri showed a different side of McLaren's capabilities, highlighting his skill in tyre preservation.

Piastri expressed his satisfaction, noting, "I think it was a really productive Sprint – obviously finishing second is always a great result. I think I really learned a lot in that one."

Despite falling short in pace to race winner Lewis Hamilton, the young driver remains optimistic about McLaren's prospects for the Grand Prix, saying, "We’ve got some good ideas for this afternoon and tomorrow and see if we can go one spot better."

While Norris looks to solve his tyre issues and deliver a stronger performance in the Chinese Grand Prix, Piastri's positive outlook offers McLaren hope of advancing their standing amidst fierce competition, particularly from the rapid Ferraris.