Piastri triumphs over Norris and Russell in thrilling 2025 Chinese Grand Prix

Dominika Jordan
Mar 23, 2025, 04:04 AM ET

Piastri led a McLaren 1-2 finish at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Oscar Piastri delivered a stunning performance to convert his maiden pole position into a commanding victory at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix. Bouncing back from the disappointment of a late-race mistake at the season opener in Australia, Piastri led a McLaren 1-2 finish at the Shanghai International Circuit, holding off teammate Lando Norris and Mercedes' George Russell.

Piastri maintained control throughout the 56-lap race, skillfully managing his lead amid discussions of whether the teams would complete one or two pit stops. In the end, the top-five finishers and most of the field opted for a one-stop strategy. Piastri built a gap to Norris across his two stints, never putting a foot wrong and taking the chequered flag to kickstart his campaign for the title.

Norris did his best to stay within striking distance of Piastri, hovering around three seconds behind in the closing stages. However, a developing brake issue forced him to exercise caution, ensuring a perfect finish for McLaren. Russell, who had briefly reclaimed second during the pit stop phase, ultimately couldn't match Norris's pace and had to settle for third.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who had predicted a difficult race following struggles in the Sprint, finished where he started in fourth. He was trailed by Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who made dramatic contact in the opening lap. Leclerc opted to race on with a damaged front wing, avoiding an extra pit stop, while Hamilton was the only frontrunner to complete a two-stop strategy. Despite setting a series of fastest laps, Hamilton couldn't recover the time lost in the pits, finishing sixth.

Esteban Ocon had a brilliant race for Haas, securing seventh place after their tough start to the 2025 season. He was followed by the second Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, Williams' Alex Albon, and his teammate Ollie Bearman, who narrowly denied Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Aston Martin's Lance Stroll the final points positions.

The race weekend in Shanghai was eventful, marked by an emotional tribute to Eddie Jordan, who passed away earlier in the week. As the lights went out at the start, Russell attacked Piastri but had to back out, allowing Norris to jump ahead. Drama ensued as Hamilton and Leclerc passed Verstappen, with Leclerc suffering front wing damage from the collision.

Midway through the race, a rain threat loomed, adding to the tension. Despite Verstappen closing in on Hamilton, he had to pit for new tires. Piastri, Norris, and Russell managed their tires to avoid a second stop, while Hamilton, on fresh tires, set fast lap times but ran out of laps to catch up.

Outside the top ten, Carlos Sainz continued his period of adaptation at Williams, finishing 13th. Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar ended 14th after making two stops and getting involved in a late incident with Alpine's Jack Doohan. Doohan received a penalty for the collision. Red Bull's Liam Lawson finished a lowly 15th, followed by Doohan and the struggling Kick Saubers of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg. Yuki Tsunoda, another Racing Bulls driver, had to pit three times due to front wing damage, while Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso retired early with brake issues.

McLaren's strong performance at Shanghai marked their second victory of the 2025 season, reinforcing their challenge for the championship. Oscar Piastri's win was a testament to his resilient spirit and extraordinary driving skill, setting the stage for an intense and thrilling season ahead.