The 2025 season had got off to a wet start, with a dramatic opener in Melbourne the weekend before setting the stage for an action-packed year ahead. Now, the paddock headed straight to Shanghai for the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix and the first Sprint weekend of the year. Lando Norris arrived with momentum after a statement victory, holding off Max Verstappen in the closing stages in Australia. With little time to reset, teams and drivers would quickly shift focus to the championship battle again as it began to take shape.
Race Guide
Season: 2025 F1 World Championship
Race weekend: 21 March 2025 – 23 March 2025
Race date: Sunday, 23 March, 2025
Race start time: 15:00 local time
Circuit: Shanghai International Circuit
Laps: 56
Circuit length: 5.451km
2024 winner: Max Verstappen
| Pole position | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | |
| Time | 1:30.641 | ||
| Fastest lap | |||
| Driver | Lando Norris | McLaren | |
| Time | 1:35.454 on lap 53 | ||
| Podium | |||
| First | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | |
| Second | Lando Norris | McLaren | |
| Third | George Russell | Mercedes | |
The 2025 race was the 18th time the Chinese Grand Prix featured on the calendar, but it presented a unique set of challenges as the season’s second round. Teams, drivers, and Pirelli would have to quickly adapt to a completely resurfaced Shanghai International Circuit, which was relaid the summer before. Having only been used a handful of times in late 2024, the new surface was expected to be smoother but would likely evolve rapidly over the race weekend. Adding to the complexity, the event followed the Sprint format, meaning just one hour of free practice on Friday before teams would have to finalise their setups and assess tyre performance in race conditions.
With the Sprint race on Saturday serving as an important test for tyre strategies and car performance, teams would have limited time to gather data. This condensed format puts extra pressure on drivers and engineers to make quick decisions, particularly with the unknowns of a newly surfaced track. The Shanghai circuit’s mix of long straights and technical corners has always made it a challenging venue, but this year, those challenges were amplified in changing track conditions.
Since its debut on the F1 calendar in 2004, the Chinese Grand Prix has been a key fixture, with only a three-year break from 2020 to 2023 breaking its continuity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rubens Barrichello claimed victory in the inaugural race, while Lewis Hamilton remained the most successful driver at this circuit with six wins and nine podium finishes before lights out in 2025. Aside from Hamilton, among the current grid, only Fernando Alonso (2005, 2013) and Max Verstappen (2024) have won here. Mercedes led the all-time team standings with six victories, though Ferrari held the record for most podium finishes with 13.
Weekend schedule
| Date | Session | Local Time |
|---|---|---|
| 21 March 2025 | Free Practice 1 (FP1) | 11:30 am – 12:30 pm local time |
| 21 March 2025 | Sprint Qualifying | 3:30 pm – 4:14 pm local time |
| 22 March 2025 | Sprint | 11:00 pm – 12:00 pm local time |
| 22 March 2025 | Qualifying | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm local time |
| 23 March 2025 | Race | 3:00 pm local time |
In Saturday’s Sprint, Lewis Hamilton delivered a masterclass in Shanghai to win the first Sprint of the 2025 Formula 1 season, his maiden victory for Ferrari. After securing a surprise pole in Friday’s Sprint Qualifying, the seven-time world champion held off Max Verstappen at the start and managed his tyres superbly over the 19-lap race to take the chequered flag. It was a landmark moment for both Hamilton and Ferrari — their first-ever Sprint win — and a stunning response to a disappointing debut weekend in Melbourne just one week earlier.
In Saturday qualifying, Oscar Piastri secured the first Grand Prix pole position of his Formula 1 career with a superb performance in a blustery Qualifying session. The McLaren driver, who had previously claimed two Sprint poles, mastered the tricky conditions at the Shanghai International Circuit to lead the field with a 1m 30.641s lap, a new lap record that had only been beaten the day before by Lewis Hamilton. It marked McLaren’s second pole in as many Grands Prix to start the 2025 season, underlining their early-season form as the reigning Constructors’ Champions.
On Sunday, Oscar Piastri claimed a dominant victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, leading a McLaren one-two ahead of team-mate Lando Norris to bounce back from his Melbourne disappointment in style. The Australian controlled the race from pole, executing a clean one-stop strategy and holding off Norris, who managed a developing brake issue in the closing laps to secure second. George Russell completed the podium for Mercedes after briefly jumping Norris during the pit stops, but ultimately couldn’t match McLaren’s pace in a race that firmly established Piastri as a title contender.
Championship background
McLaren and Mercedes go into the race tied on 27 points in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship. McLaren’s strong showing in Melbourne came courtesy of Lando Norris’ commanding victory, while Mercedes benefitted from George Russell’s podium finish and an impressive fourth-place result for rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli in his debut race. Meanwhile, Ferrari had a frustrating start, with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc struggling due to a poor qualifying session and strategy missteps, leaving them to collect only minor points.
In the Drivers’ Championship, Norris leads the standings with a perfect 25 points after a flawless performance in Australia. The McLaren driver converted pole position into his fifth career win, fending off a late challenge from Max Verstappen to cross the line just 0.895 seconds ahead of the Red Bull.
As the season gained momentum, all eyes were on the title fight, with Norris, Verstappen, and Hamilton hoping to knock on the door of the championship contenders with an underperforming start in his Ferrari debut. With a long season ahead and the field appearing closer than in recent years, the battle for supremacy was already shaping up to be an intense one.
Race entries
The lineup of drivers and teams remained the same as the 2025 season’s entry list, featuring no reserve drivers for the race. However, after the rookie drivers had a challenging race at the 2025 Australian Grand Prix, with only Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman going the full race distance, could the season’s fresh faces fare any better in the second round with the added pressure of the Sprint Race?
Tyre choices
The Shanghai track is 5.451 kilometres long and its layout is based on the Chinese character “shang” meaning “upwards” or “above”. Tyre strategy is always a crucial factor in Shanghai, with Pirelli bringing the same three compounds as last year: C2 as Hard (white), C3 as Medium (yellow), and C4 as Soft (red). While the C3 and C4 were used at the previous weekend in Melbourne, the C2 saw significant mileage during pre-season testing in Bahrain. However, all compounds had been updated for 2025, with the C2 in particular now softer and closer in performance to the C3. This shift could impact strategy decisions, particularly in managing degradation over long runs and adapting to the demands of the resurfaced circuit.
Another key consideration would be the weather, as this was the first time the Chinese Grand Prix took place in March. Historically, temperatures in Shanghai during this period hover around 18°C, but the forecast suggested a warmer-than-usual weekend. From Friday onwards, temperatures were expected to rise above 20°C, peaking at 26°C on Saturday. While this is hotter than the seasonal average, it is comparable to conditions seen in last year’s April race, meaning teams could still reference previous data while adjusting to the earlier slot on the calendar.
With a resurfaced track, a Sprint format compressing preparation time, and evolving tyre characteristics, this weekend promised to test the adaptability of teams and drivers.
FIND OUT MORE
Free Practice
In FP1, Lando Norris continued his strong start to the 2025 season by setting the pace in Friday’s sole practice session at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix. The McLaren driver, fresh off his season-opening win in Australia, clocked a blistering 1:31.504 to top the timesheets ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and teammate Oscar Piastri. With Shanghai hosting the first Sprint event of the year, this single hour of track time was vital for teams and drivers to fine-tune their setups ahead of Sprint Qualifying later in the day.
Full Free Practice Reports
Free Practice 1 Classification
FP1 was held on 21 March 2025, at 11:30 am – 12:30 pm local time.
Sprint Qualifying
Lewis Hamilton delivered a sensational performance to claim pole position for Saturday’s Sprint at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, marking a remarkable turnaround in just his second race weekend with Ferrari. After a challenging debut in Melbourne that saw him finish 10th, the seven-time world champion bounced back in style at a circuit where he holds a record six Grand Prix wins, showing strong pace throughout the Sprint Qualifying session.
Sprint Qualifying Report
Sprint Qualifying Classification
Sprint Qualifying was held on 21 March 2025, 3:30 pm – 4:14 pm local time
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:31.212 | 1:31.384 | 1:30.849 | 15 |
| 2 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:31.916 | 1:31.521 | 1:30.867 | 12 |
| 3 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:31.723 | 1:31.362 | 1:30.929 | 13 |
| 4 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:31.518 | 1:31.561 | 1:31.057 | 15 |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:31.952 | 1:31.346 | 1:31.169 | 18 |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:31.396 | 1:31.174 | 1:31.393 | 13 |
| 7 | 12 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:31.999 | 1:31.475 | 1:31.738 | 17 |
| 8 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:32.316 | 1:31.794 | 1:31.773 | 12 |
| 9 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:32.462 | 1:31.539 | 1:31.852 | 14 |
| 10 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:32.327 | 1:31.742 | 1:31.982 | 12 |
| 11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:32.121 | 1:31.815 | 8 | |
| 12 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:32.269 | 1:31.978 | 9 | |
| 13 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:32.457 | 1:32.325 | 10 | |
| 14 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:32.539 | 1:32.564 | 12 | |
| 15 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:32.171 | DNF | 8 | |
| 16 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | 1:32.575 | 6 | ||
| 17 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:32.640 | 6 | ||
| 18 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:32.651 | 6 | ||
| 19 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:32.675 | 6 | ||
| 20 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:32.729 | 5 |
2025 Chinese Sprint Starting Grid
The Sprint starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying session.
| Pos | No | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 2 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT |
| 3 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes |
| 4 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes |
| 7 | 12 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 8 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT |
| 9 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes |
| 10 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes |
| 11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes |
| 12 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari |
| 13 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes |
| 14 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari |
| 15 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT |
| 16 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault |
| 17 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault |
| 18 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari |
| 19 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari |
| 20 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT |
Sprint Race
Lewis Hamilton led confidently from lights out, making a Schumacher-esque Ferrari dive across Verstappen and building a steady gap while dealing with mid-race tyre graining on his SF-25. Despite the challenge, he maintained control and looked at home on a circuit where he’s won more times than any other driver. Behind him, Max Verstappen initially held second but was caught and passed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in the closing laps, dropping the reigning world champion to third. Mercedes’ George Russell fended off a late charge from Charles Leclerc to claim fourth, with the second Ferrari finishing just behind in fifth.
It was a landmark moment for both Hamilton and Ferrari — their first-ever Sprint win — and a stunning response to a disappointing debut weekend in Melbourne just one week earlier.
Sprint Race Report
Sprint Race Classification
The Sprint Race was held on 22 March 2025, 11:00 pm – 12:00 pm local time.
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Laps | Time/retired | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 19 | 30:39.965 | 8 |
| 2 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 19 | +6.889s | 7 |
| 3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 19 | +9.804s | 6 |
| 4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 19 | +11.592s | 5 |
| 5 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 19 | +12.190s | 4 |
| 6 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 19 | +22.288s | 3 |
| 7 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 19 | +23.038s | 2 |
| 8 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 19 | +23.471s | 1 |
| 9 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 19 | +24.916s | 0 |
| 10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 19 | +38.218s | 0 |
| 11 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 19 | +39.292s | 0 |
| 12 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 19 | +39.649s | 0 |
| 13 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 19 | +42.400s | 0 |
| 14 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 19 | +44.904s | 0 |
| 15 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 19 | +45.649s | 0 |
| 16 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 19 | +46.182s | 0 |
| 17 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 19 | +51.376s | 0 |
| 18 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 19 | +53.940s | 0 |
| 19 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 19 | +56.682s | 0 |
| 20 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | 19 | +70.212s | 0 |
| Note: Jack Doohan was handed a 10-second post-race time penalty for causing a collision. | ||||||
Qualifying
Oscar Piastri delivered when it mattered most, overcoming a slow start to Qualifying and surging to his first-ever Grand Prix pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix. While McLaren entered the weekend as favourites after their dominant showing in Melbourne — where Lando Norris won and Piastri was in contention before a costly spin — their grip on the front looked to be slipping as Lewis Hamilton shocked the paddock with Sprint pole and a composed win for Ferrari earlier on Saturday. It briefly cast doubt on whether McLaren’s early-season dominance, predicted by the likes of George Russell, would hold up.
Russell was the standout among McLaren’s challengers, bouncing back from a tough session to steal a front-row spot for Mercedes in the dying seconds, while Verstappen and Norris settled for the second row.
Full Qualifying Report
Qualifying Classification
Qualifying was held on 22 March 2025, at 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm local time.
| Pos | No | Driver | Car | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes | 1:31.591 | 1:31.200 | 1:30.641 | 20 |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:31.295 | 1:31.307 | 1:30.723 | 22 |
| 3 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes | 1:30.983 | 1:30.787 | 1:30.793 | 17 |
| 4 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:31.424 | 1:31.142 | 1:30.817 | 15 |
| 5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:31.690 | 1:31.501 | 1:30.927 | 21 |
| 6 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:31.579 | 1:31.450 | 1:31.021 | 21 |
| 7 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:31.162 | 1:31.253 | 1:31.079 | 20 |
| 8 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:31.676 | 1:31.590 | 1:31.103 | 22 |
| 9 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 1:31.238 | 1:31.260 | 1:31.638 | 19 |
| 10 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes | 1:31.503 | 1:31.595 | 1:31.706 | 20 |
| 11 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari | 1:31.876 | 1:31.625 | 15 | |
| 12 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:31.921 | 1:31.632 | 15 | |
| 13 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:31.719 | 1:31.688 | 15 | |
| 14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes | 1:31.923 | 1:31.773 | 15 | |
| 15 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes | 1:31.628 | 1:31.840 | 15 | |
| 16 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault | 1:31.992 | 9 | ||
| 17 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari | 1:32.018 | 8 | ||
| 18 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault | 1:32.092 | 8 | ||
| 19 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 1:32.141 | 9 | ||
| 20 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 1:32.174 | 8 |
2025 Chinese Grand Prix Starting Grid
The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying session.
| Pos | No | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 3 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes |
| 4 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT |
| 5 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 6 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 7 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT |
| 8 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 9 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT |
| 10 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams Mercedes |
| 11 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari |
| 12 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber Ferrari |
| 13 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes |
| 14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes |
| 15 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes |
| 16 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault |
| 17 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari |
| 18 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine Renault |
| 19 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber Ferrari |
| 20 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT |
What happened in the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix?
Oscar Piastri bounced back in style at the Chinese Grand Prix, converting his maiden Grand Prix pole into a commanding victory and leading McLaren to a dominant one-two finish. After the heartbreak of a late-race spin in Melbourne, Piastri delivered a flawless drive around the Shanghai International Circuit, taking his third career F1 win and firmly launching himself into the 2025 title fight. Team-mate Lando Norris followed him home in second, while George Russell completed the podium for Mercedes with another consistent performance.
Piastri controlled the 56-lap race from lights to flag, executing a clean one-stop strategy and showing calm, measured pace throughout. While Norris kept the gap within a few seconds for much of the race, any hopes of a late challenge faded when a developing brake issue forced him to back off in the closing laps. The McLaren pit wall instructed the Briton to take no risks, allowing Piastri to cruise to the chequered flag. It was a clinical display from the Australian, showing maturity and precision in a race where tyre and brake management proved crucial.
Behind the McLaren duo, Russell briefly jumped Norris during the pit stop phase and kept the pressure on during the second stint, but ultimately lacked the pace to challenge either McLaren over the full race distance. Still, his third-place finish made it back-to-back podiums to start the season. With McLaren’s strong form continuing and Piastri’s momentum building, the championship picture is already shaping up to be an exciting intra-team battle.
Max Verstappen pulled off a late-race move on Charles Leclerc to secure fourth place, minimising the damage in the championship standings as he now trailed leader Lando Norris by just eight points. The Red Bull driver showed his trademark racecraft in the closing stages, overtaking Leclerc after a tense battle that added some late drama to an otherwise strategic affair.
Lewis Hamilton, fresh from his Sprint win on Saturday, endured a more frustrating Sunday. Opting for a two-stop strategy while most front-runners stuck to one, the Ferrari driver was unable to match the pace of those around him and finished a distant sixth. Early in the race, he was asked to let teammate Leclerc through after the pair made light contact on the opening lap — a moment that damaged Leclerc’s front wing, though it had little impact on his overall performance.
Further back, Esteban Ocon secured his first points of the season with a strong drive to seventh for Haas. Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli followed in eighth, ahead of Williams’ Alex Albon. The final point went to 18-year-old Oliver Bearman, who delivered a standout drive for Haas, charging through the field on an alternative strategy to finish tenth and continue his impressive rookie campaign.
Piastri Shines in Shanghai as McLaren Dominate with Commanding One-Two Finish
Oscar Piastri delivered a flawless performance to win the Chinese Grand Prix, leading every lap aside from the pit stop phase and firmly cementing his status as a serious title contender. The McLaren driver was in control from the start, even helping team-mate Lando Norris secure second by squeezing George Russell at Turn 1, allowing Norris to sweep around the outside — a crucial move on a circuit where track position is king.
Norris briefly lost second to Russell through the pit stop cycle but reclaimed the spot with a bold move down the inside into Turn 1. Though he began to close the gap to Piastri mid-race, McLaren instructed Norris to manage his tyres, and he never got within two seconds of the leader. In the final laps, Norris reported a developing brake issue, describing a “long pedal,” but had enough of a buffer to hold off Russell by 1.3 seconds and secure McLaren’s dominant one-two.
Max Verstappen again made the most of his Red Bull, climbing to fourth with a late charge after Lewis Hamilton’s second pit stop promoted him to fifth. The reigning world champion then executed a brilliant move around the outside of Charles Leclerc at Turn 3 to snatch P4. Red Bull and Ferrari, however, will be concerned by McLaren’s raw pace — both finishing more than 15 seconds adrift of Piastri on a circuit that often reveals aerodynamic superiority. The result puts McLaren 25 points clear of Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship heading into Suzuka in two weeks.
Hamilton and Leclerc Clash Early, But Ferrari’s Race Unfolds As Pace Fades
Ferrari’s promising form from the Sprint failed to carry over into Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, and their race almost unravelled at the very start when Charles Leclerc made contact with Lewis Hamilton. The pair touched in the opening corners, with Leclerc clipping Hamilton’s rear tyre while going side-by-side with Max Verstappen. The Monegasque admitted he “did not expect” Hamilton to move across but insisted the incident wasn’t his team-mate’s fault.
Leclerc suffered minor front wing damage, costing him an estimated 20 to 30 points of downforce — roughly 0.2 to 0.3 seconds per lap — but still showed stronger pace than Hamilton. After the first round of pit stops, Ferrari instructed Hamilton to let Leclerc through. Hamilton was the only driver in the top 10 to opt for a two-stop strategy, but it didn’t pay off, and he finished a lonely sixth.
Elsewhere, the race ran largely incident-free. Haas rookie Oliver Bearman impressed once again, making the alternative hard-to-medium strategy work with a series of clean overtakes to finish 10th and claim the final point. Racing Bulls’ gamble on a two-stop strategy backfired, dropping both Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda out of the points despite showing early promise. Red Bull’s Liam Lawson continued to struggle, finishing 15th, while Jack Doohan received the only penalty of the race after forcing Hadjar off track en route to 16th. Fernando Alonso was the sole retiree due to a brake issue on his Aston Martin.
Post-race: Double Disqualification Nightmare for Ferrari as Hamilton and Leclerc Lose Points in China
Ferrari’s Chinese Grand Prix ended in disaster after both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were disqualified from the final results due to technical regulation breaches. Post-race inspections revealed that Hamilton’s rear skid block was below the minimum thickness required, while Leclerc’s car failed to meet the minimum weight limit.
According to the FIA, the skid block on Hamilton’s car measured 8.6mm on the left-hand side and centreline and 8.5mm on the right-hand side—below the mandated 9mm minimum specified under Article 3.5.9 of the Technical Regulations. Leclerc, who had initially finished fifth, was also disqualified after his Ferrari was found underweight following post-race checks.
Adding to the drama, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly was also disqualified from P11 for the same weight breach as Leclerc, capping a tough start to the season for the Enstone squad, which remained the only team yet to score points in 2025. The shake-up promoted Esteban Ocon, Kimi Antonelli, Alex Albon, and Ollie Bearman up two positions each. At the same time, Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz were elevated into the top 10 to collect the final points.
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2025 Chinese Grand Prix race results
The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix Race was held on 23 March 2025, at 3:00 pm local time.
2025 Post-Race F1 Championship Standings
Championship standings for Drivers’ and Teams after the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix.
2025 Post-Race F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings
| Pos | Driver | Nationality | Car | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | GBR | McLaren | 44 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | NED | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 36 |
| 3 | George Russell | GBR | Mercedes | 35 |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | AUS | McLaren | 34 |
| 5 | Kimi Antonelli | ITA | Mercedes | 22 |
| 6 | Alexander Albon | THA | Williams Mercedes | 16 |
| 7 | Esteban Ocon | FRA | Haas Ferrari | 10 |
| 8 | Lance Stroll | CAN | Aston Martin Mercedes | 10 |
| 9 | Lewis Hamilton | GBR | Ferrari | 9 |
| 10 | Charles Leclerc | MON | Ferrari | 8 |
| 11 | Nico Hulkenberg | GER | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 6 |
| 12 | Oliver Bearman | GBR | Haas Ferrari | 4 |
| 13 | Yuki Tsunoda | JPN | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 3 |
| 14 | Carlos Sainz | ESP | Williams Mercedes | 1 |
| 15 | Isack Hadjar | FRA | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT | 0 |
| 16 | Pierre Gasly | FRA | Alpine Renualt | 0 |
| 17 | Liam Lawson | NZL | Red Bull Racing Honda RBPT | 0 |
| 18 | Jack Doohan | AUS | Alpine Renualt | 0 |
| 19 | Gabriel Bortoleto | BRA | Kick Sauber Ferrari | 0 |
| 20 | Fernando Alonso | ESP | Aston Martin Mercedes | 0 |
2025 Post-Race F1 Constructors’ Championship Standings
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