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Oscar Piastri delivered a commanding performance at the Chinese Grand Prix, leading from pole position to secure victory for McLaren. His teammate, Lando Norris, finished second, cementing a dominant one-two finish for the team. George Russell rounded out the podium in third place for Mercedes, while Max Verstappen took fourth for Red Bull, ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in fifth and sixth, respectively.
Piastri controlled the race with ease, executing a flawless drive and managing his tyres expertly. "The car was very lovely and good work on reacting to the [tyre] deg," he told his team after crossing the finish line. The victory marked his third career win and McLaren's first triumph in China since 2011.
Norris, who started strong by overtaking Russell at Turn 1, faced a challenge when he lost the position during the pit stop phase. However, he quickly reclaimed second place, showcasing McLaren's superior pace. He also encountered late-race brake pedal issues but managed to hold on. "Oscar drove well, he deserved the win. I'm happy with second, good points and great points for the team with a one-two," Norris said.
Russell secured third place putting him one point ahead of Piastri and nine points behind Norris in the championship standings . "It's a great result, finishing P3," he said. "We knew McLaren were a smidge quicker than us, but more crucial points."
Max Verstappen endured a tough start, dropping to sixth after being forced wide on Lap 1. He later fought back, passing Leclerc with three laps remaining to secure fourth place. Ferrari struggled to challenge the leaders, with Leclerc damaging his front wing in a minor collision with Hamilton. Although initially held behind, Leclerc was eventually allowed to pass his teammate on Lap 21. Hamilton, managing tyre wear, opted for a two-stop strategy but finished just 2.1 seconds behind Leclerc.
The midfield battle saw Esteban Ocon secure seventh place for Haas, followed by Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli in eighth. Alex Albon finished ninth for Williams, while Oliver Bearman put in an impressive drive to claim tenth for Haas.
With Norris leading the championship on 44 points, followed by Max on 36, Russell on 35 and Piastri on 34, McLaren has firmly established itself as a title contender in 2025.
