Chinese Grand Prix 2025: Chaos, Controversy, and a Commanding McLaren

After a dramatic season opener in Australia, Formula 1’s return to the Shanghai International Circuit for the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix proved that chaos is the new normal. A packed crowd watched an action-filled weekend that included a McLaren masterclass, Ferrari heartbreak, and a developing rookie crisis at Red Bull Racing.

FRIDAY: McLaren Set the Early Tone

The weekend kicked off with just a single practice session due to the sprint format, making every lap count. McLaren’s Lando Norris wasted no time reminding everyone why he’s a championship favorite this year. Norris set the pace with a 1:31.504, with teammate Oscar Piastri right behind him in third, sandwiching Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who was second.

A red flag disrupted the flow when Jack Doohan’s Alpine lost power on track. While not damaging, the delay forced teams to rush through crucial long-run data and tire tests—an issue that would echo into the race on Sunday.

SPRINT QUALIFYING: Hamilton Strikes Gold for Ferrari

Friday’s Sprint Qualifying brought Lewis Hamilton’s first major highlight in red. In only his second race with Ferrari, the seven-time world champion stunned the paddock by grabbing pole for the sprint with a razor-sharp lap of 1:30.849.

It was a vintage Hamilton performance—controlled, precise, and perfectly timed. Max Verstappen was just 0.018s behind, narrowly missing out on the top spot. Piastri took third, while Norris—despite showing serious pace—made a costly error in Sector 3 and had to settle for sixth.

SATURDAY SPRINT: Hamilton Holds Off Verstappen

The Sprint Race delivered intense but clean racing. Hamilton held the lead off the line and expertly managed pressure from Verstappen for the full 19 laps. It marked his first win in Ferrari colors, albeit in sprint format.

Piastri rounded out the top three, with Norris climbing to fourth. Leclerc and Russell completed the top six, keeping their teams in the points. For Ferrari, the momentum shift was massive—or so it seemed.

SUNDAY’S RACE: Safety Cars, Strategy, and Skid Block Shock

Sunday’s Grand Prix started in calm conditions but turned chaotic by mid-race. Hamilton led early, but when Esteban Ocon (Haas) and Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber) collided in Turn 6, the safety car brought the field back together.

Norris, who had just made a pit stop before the yellow flags flew, found himself in prime position. With a clear track and warm tires on the restart, he surged past the field and never looked back. He would go on to win his second consecutive race, reinforcing McLaren’s early-season supremacy.

Verstappen, struggling on worn tires, finished third on track, while Hamilton crossed the line second—seemingly a brilliant recovery for Ferrari. But the celebration wouldn’t last long.

FIA Disqualifies Both Ferrari Drivers After Post-Race Scrutineering

In a crushing blow to the Scuderia, the FIA disqualified both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc after their cars failed post-race inspection.

The FIA technical delegates found that Hamilton’s skid block—a key part of the car’s underbody used to prevent excessive plank wear—had worn down beyond the legal minimum thickness. Leclerc, on the other hand, was found to be running below the minimum car weight required by FIA regulations.

According to the ruling, the combination of aggressive setup choices, high tire degradation, and Shanghai’s bumpy layout may have contributed to the excessive wear. Regardless of cause, FIA rules leave no room for interpretation—any breach in minimum specifications results in disqualification, even if performance gains were unintentional.

The decision not only stripped Ferrari of second and fifth-place finishes, but also significantly damaged their early championship campaign. It was a hard lesson in the unforgiving nature of F1’s technical rulebook and a costly mistake for a team aiming to return to title contention.

LIAM LAWSON: Pressure Mounts on Red Bull Rookie

While the top teams battled at the front, Liam Lawson’s struggles continued at Red Bull. After qualifying dead last on Friday, Lawson made little headway during the Sprint or the Grand Prix itself. He ended the race weekend without scoring a single point—again—and finished outside the top 15 on Sunday.

To make matters worse, teammate Yuki Tsunoda brought home a strong points finish, outperforming Lawson in every session across the weekend. With Red Bull Racing and its junior team known for little patience, the pressure is now squarely on Lawson’s shoulders. If he can’t bounce back soon, his seat may be in serious jeopardy.