Let’s get one thing straight: Formula 1 doesn’t do subtle, and Shanghai just reminded everyone why. The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix was less “race weekend” and more of a full-blown plot twist. Oscar Piastri delivered a pole-to-flag win like a man on a mission, McLaren flexed with a flawless 1-2, and Ferrari? Well, let’s just say their celebration plans were cut very short by the FIA’s measuring tape.
Between brake dramas, midfield surprises, and three post-race disqualifications—including Hamilton, fresh off his first Ferrari win—the weekend was a chaotic cocktail of dominance, disappointment, and a whole lot of DNF-energy without the actual DNFs.
PAPAYA DOMINATION
Last week, Oscar Piastri was beating himself up over a late-race slip-up in Melbourne. This week? He was busy leading every lap of the Chinese Grand Prix like he’d never heard of pressure. Calm, composed, and utterly in control, the Aussie nailed his first pole and followed it up with a race that screamed title contender. Behind him, teammate Lando Norris kept it tidy for a clean McLaren 1-2, giving the papaya squad a very early taste of championship momentum.
Norris was told to keep things cautious in the final laps due to a pesky brake issue—and with Russell nipping at his heels, the risk-reward balance could’ve gotten spicy. Instead, McLaren played it cool, and the papaya boys walked away with maximum points.
RUSSELL HUSTLED, VERSTAPPEN PLATEUED
George Russell may have been third on paper, but he certainly wasn’t content playing background noise. After leapfrogging Norris during pit stops, the Mercedes driver gave the McLaren camp something to think about—briefly.
And then there was Max Verstappen. The reigning champ predicted a tough one, and he wasn’t wrong. Red Bull’s Sprint woes bled into Sunday, leaving Max lapping just off the leaders’ pace in a quiet P4.
FERRARI’S DISQUALIFICATION
Ah, Ferrari. If there’s one thing you can count on in Formula 1, it’s the Scuderia’s flair for melodrama, which they delivered in Shanghai. Saturday saw Lewis Hamilton bag his first win in red during the Sprint, a victory dripping in emotion and nostalgia. But by Sunday evening? Disqualified. Yep, the stewards found his Ferrari’s plank had worn too thin, likely the result of aggressive setup choices or tire wear.
To make matters worse, Charles Leclerc—who spent most of the race nursing a damaged front wing—was also booted from the standings after his car tipped the scales just under the minimum weight. Same for Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, whose car also failed post-race inspection. Three drivers out, three teams fuming, and a championship leaderboard that just got a shake-up before it ever really settled.
