F1 update – Chinese GP

Round 2 of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship was held at the Shanghai International Circuit in China for the Chinese Grand Prix.

McLaren continued their supurb start to the season by clinching a 1 – 2 finish with this time Oscar Piastri taking victory ahead of team mate Lando Norris with Mercedes George Russell completing the podium in third.

Chinese GP – top 5:

• 1st: Oscar Piastri – McLaren
• 2nd: Lando Norris – McLaren
• 3rd: George Russell – Mercedes
• 4th: Max Verstappen – Red Bull
• 5th: Esteban Ocon – Haas

Other highlights:

• Ferrari’s Sir Lewis Hamilton took victory in the first sprint race of the season heading home McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who finished second with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen third.
• Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso would retire for the second straight race on lap 5 with brake problems.
• Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly were disqualified post race for their cars being found 1kg under weight. Leclerc’s Ferrari team mate Sir Lewis Hamilton was also disqualified for excessive plank wear.
• Double delight at Haas as they scored a double points finish with Esteban Ocon finishing fifth whilst his team mate Oliver Bearman finished in eighth.
• Williams also enjoyed a double points finish which saw their drivers Alexander Albon finish seventh and his team mate Carlos Sainz finish in tenth.
• Alpine’s Jack Doohan was given a 10 second time penalty for forcing Racing Bulls driver Isack Hadjar off the track.
• Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda suffered a front wing failure towards the end of the race.
• Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto would spin off on lap 5, but was able to keep going to finish the race in fourteenth.

News:

• Former team boss and founder of Jordan Formula 1 team Eddie Jordan passed away at the age of 76 after a battle with cancer.
• Red Bull’s Liam Lawson is set to lose his seat with the team and race for Racing Bulls with current Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda set to take Lawson’s seat in a straight swap.

The next round of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship will be held at the Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix on 4th to 6th April.

Here’s Aston and regular contributor Cameron Perkins with the latest from the world of Formula 1.