Race Winner: Oscar Piastri; Lewis Hamilton, Alongside Two Others, Ousted from Chinese Grand Prix
Revamped Race Report: McLaren's Double Victory at the Chinese Grand Prix
Oscar Piastri won the Chinese Grand Prix in a thrilling race this Sunday, with his McLaren teammate Lando Norris finishing a close second. However, the celebration was short-lived as three drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, were later disqualified.
Piastri dominated the race, starting from pole and leading almost the entire event in Shanghai. He finished a comfortable 10 seconds ahead of Norris, claiming his third Formula 1 Grand Prix victory of his career. The Australian's impressive performance cements McLaren as frontrunners to challenge Red Bull for the top spot in the drivers' championship race.
The McLaren duo was in a league of their own, with Piastri holding his lead throughout the race, except for a pit stop. Norris, despite battling brake issues and a challenging fight with Mercedes' George Russell, held on to second. Russell, finishing third, was over five seconds ahead of reigning champion Max Verstappen.
Norris's victory last week in Australia and this weekend's second place finish mean that McLaren has won both races of the 2025 season.
The podium finish wasn't without drama, as Hamilton, who won Saturday's sprint race for Ferrari, finished the race in sixth place. A few hours after the race, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) announced the disqualification of Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Pierre Gasly.
According to the FIA, Hamilton's car was disqualified due to a rear skid block that was found to be below the allowed minimum thickness, measured at 8.6 mm and 8.5 mm at different points, short of the required 9 mm14. Leclerc and Gasly were disqualified for having underweight cars.
The disqualifications result in Norris maintaining his lead in the drivers' championship standings with an 8-point advantage over Verstappen. Piastri moves up to fourth, trailing Norris by 10 points1. The first two races of the season suggest an exciting battle for the championship title this year.
In remembrance of Eddie Jordan, the former team owner who gave Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher his F1 debut, tributes were paid before the race.
Insights:
- Lewis Hamilton's disqualification marks the first time in his career that he has failed to score points in a Grand Prix.
- Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly's disqualifications indicate a lack of compliance with the minimum car weight requirement, causing their cars to weigh under 800 kg during post-race scrutineering.
Schumacher's memory was honored at the Chinese Grand Prix, a race which, surprisingly, saw the disqualification of not one, but three drivers – Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Pierre Gasly. The latter two were disqualified due to their cars weighing less than the required minimum, while Hamilton's car was found to have a rear skid block below the allowed minimum thickness. Despite these surprising events, Piastri's victory and Norris's consistent performance have cemented McLaren's position as strong competitors in this year's drivers' championship race, with a happy outcome for the team amidst the motorsport surprises.
