In another Formula 1 race, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen emerged victorious once again at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Starting from the front of the grid, Verstappen clinched his fourth win in five races this season, marking his 23rd victory in the last 27 races spanning back to the previous season.
A brake failure at the Australian GP in Melbourne last month was the only setback that possibly prevented him from winning all five races.
Verstappen briefly fell behind after a pit stop but quickly regained the lead. Lando Norris of McLaren finished about 14 seconds behind Verstappen in second place, marking his eighth career second-place finish as he continues to chase his first win. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez secured third place.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished fourth and fifth respectively, fending off challenges from Mercedes driver George Russell and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin who finished sixth and seventh.
The remaining points-scoring positions were taken by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, and Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, who finished tenth.
Verstappen now leads the championship standings with 110 points, followed by Perez (85), Leclerc (76), Sainz (69), and Norris (58).
Verstappen expressed his joy, stating, “It felt amazing.” He praised the performance of his car throughout the weekend, describing it as “incredibly quick” and “enjoyable to drive,” feeling like it was “on rails” and giving him full control. He emphasized the thrill of such weekends.
When asked about the dominance of his victory, Verstappen simply acknowledged it as a “good one,” without going into specifics. Looking ahead to the next Grand Prix in Miami, he highlighted the differences in track, tires, and tarmac, indicating the unpredictability of the race outcome.
During the race, the safety car was deployed twice due to various incidents, including Valtteri Bottas’ stalled car and collisions involving Kevin Magnussen, Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll, and Daniel Ricciardo.
Verstappen’s dominance wasn’t limited to the race day; he also secured victory in the sprint race on Saturday. Despite his success, he remained critical of the sprint format, expressing concerns about its impact on mechanics due to the increased workload and stress.
While acknowledging the necessity to adapt, Verstappen cautioned against overdoing it, noting the strain it could put on individuals within the sport. Norris shared similar sentiments to Verstappen.
“The main concern is the strain it puts on mechanics and engineers,” he explained. “I don’t think it affects us drivers much, honestly. We can’t really complain. It’s more about the hundreds of mechanics and engineers who have to travel extensively. It’s not good for their well-being.”
This marked the first Formula 1 race in China since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues. Zhou Guanyu, who hails from Shanghai, finished 14th for Sauber, possibly his final chance to race at home before teams reshuffle their driver lineups next season.
After the race, Zhou was visibly emotional, squatting on the tarmac and covering his face while the crowd cheered his name, showing their support.
The real competition in Formula 1 for the remainder of the season seems to revolve around securing positions behind Verstappen and Perez. Mercedes’ George Russell described it as a “fight” for places ranging from third to eighth.
In Formula 1, dominance is not uncommon. Prior to Verstappen, Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton were the dominant figures, with Schumacher and Hamilton each winning seven season titles and Vettel securing four.
It seems likely that Verstappen and Red Bull will continue to dominate next season. However, this could change in 2026 when new engine and chassis regulations are introduced in Formula 1.
Miami is expected to attract a celebrity-filled paddock. In China, there was also a lineup of celebrities, including former basketball star Yao Ming and double Olympic champion skier Eileen Gu, who posed for photos in the paddock and on the track before the race began.
