Piastri Leads McLaren 1-2 in Shanghai as Norris Takes Championship Lead
Shanghai, China – Oscar Piastri powered to a commanding victory at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, heading a McLaren 1-2 ahead of teammate Lando Norris and Mercedes’ George Russell in a race packed with surprises and statistical milestones.
The result marked McLaren’s 50th 1-2 finish in Formula 1 history — their first since 2010 — and their third consecutive win of the season. It was also the first time the Woking-based outfit has won three races in a row since the 2012 Hungarian, Belgian, and Italian Grands Prix.
Piastri’s victory was his third career win and solidified his growing reputation with a statement drive from start to finish. His consistency remains unmatched, as he has now scored points in 28 consecutive Grand Prix weekends — the longest active streak on the grid.
“It’s a special day for us,” Piastri said. “The team has been working flat out and to get a 1-2 here in Shanghai shows just how far we’ve come.”
Norris, who finished second in China for the second year running, now leads the Drivers’ Championship by eight points over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The defending World Champion could only manage fourth place after a late-race overtake on Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, salvaging what could have been a tougher blow to his title defense.
Mercedes also celebrated a milestone of their own, with Russell’s P3 finish marking the team’s 300th podium as a constructor. It was Russell’s second consecutive podium and a sign that Mercedes may be turning the corner after a turbulent 2024 campaign.
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s weekend unraveled with a double disqualification due to technical infringements, and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was also disqualified post-race for a skid block breach, wiping out his potential points haul.
Further back, Haas enjoyed a breakthrough race with Esteban Ocon finishing P5 — the team’s best-ever result in Shanghai. It was a remarkable turnaround for Ocon, who qualified last in Australia.
Teenage sensation Kimi Antonelli continued his impressive rookie season by finishing sixth, making it two points-scoring races in a row. Fans rewarded the young Mercedes driver with Driver of the Day honours after he battled through floor damage to bring home solid points.
Williams also had reason to celebrate as Alex Albon briefly led the race — on his birthday no less — becoming the ninth driver in F1 history to do so. He eventually finished P7, giving Williams their first laps led in a Grand Prix since the 2015 British Grand Prix.
Rounding out the points was Haas’ Oliver Bearman in P8, who scored for the first time in 2025. The combined efforts of Bearman and Ocon marked Haas’ first double points finish of the season after a disappointing start in Melbourne.
Elsewhere, Kick Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto outperformed teammate Nico HĂĽlkenberg by nearly 10 seconds, while veteran Fernando Alonso suffered another retirement due to suspected brake issues. Alonso remains the only driver yet to finish a race in the 2025 season.
As the F1 circus heads next to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix, McLaren have firmly planted themselves as early favourites — and perhaps the biggest threat to Red Bull’s dominance in years.
