The Chinese Grand Prix delivered an action-packed weekend, with McLaren stealing the show as Oscar Piastri led a stunning one-two finish ahead of Lando Norris.
But while McLaren celebrated, Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton faced a weekend of highs and lows, ending in a shocking disqualification.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest talking points from the second race of the 2025 Formula One season.
Ferrari’s Rollercoaster Weekend Ends in Disappointment
Ferrari had every reason to celebrate when Hamilton stormed to victory in Saturday’s sprint race—his first win with the team.
But that joy quickly turned to heartbreak on Sunday as both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc were disqualified due to technical rule violations.
Hamilton’s car was found to have excessive plank wear, while Leclerc’s fell below the mandatory 800-kilogram weight limit.
Ferrari maintained their innocence, blaming Leclerc’s one-stop strategy for the weight issue and admitting they had slightly miscalculated Hamilton’s plank wear.
However, the FIA wasn’t buying it. The stewards also disqualified Alpine’s Pierre Gasly for a similar weight infraction.
The message was loud and clear—rule violations, whether intentional or not, come with serious consequences.
Is Liam Lawson’s Red Bull Seat in Jeopardy?
Speculation is mounting over Liam Lawson’s future at Red Bull, with reports suggesting he may lose his seat after just two races.
Autosport reported that Yuki Tsunoda could be promoted from junior team RB in time for his home race in Japan on April 4-6.
Lawson has struggled so far this season, failing to make it past the first qualifying stage in all three sessions.
While Max Verstappen is fighting for the title with 36 points, Lawson has yet to score a single point.
Meanwhile, Tsunoda has shown promise, with his strong performances only hindered by strategic missteps from his team.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner acknowledged Lawson’s tough start, stating, “We’ll have a good look at it,” while praising Tsunoda for his solid performance.
With McLaren already 42 points ahead in the constructors’ standings, Red Bull may not have the patience to wait for Lawson to find his form.
Albon Celebrates His Birthday in Style
It was a birthday to remember for Alex Albon, who turned 29 on Sunday and celebrated with another strong performance for Williams.
The Thai-British driver finished ninth on track but was later promoted to seventh, marking his second top-10 finish of the season.
Albon has been a standout performer, defying expectations in a Williams car that has significantly improved this year.
His fifth-place finish in Melbourne was already impressive, but his performance in China reinforced Williams’ growing competitiveness.
“We’ve made huge progress,” Albon said, reflecting on his weekend.
“The fact that we can fix issues and improve race by race is a big step forward compared to last year.”
Chinese Grand Prix Results
Here’s how the top 10 finished at the Shanghai International Circuit:
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:30:55.026
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – +9.748s
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +11.097s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +16.656s
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) – +49.969s
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +53.748s
- Alexander Albon (Williams) – +56.321s
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +1:01.303
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – +1:10.204
- Carlos Sainz Jr. (Williams) – +1:16.387
Retirements: Fernando Alonso (brake failure, Lap 5) Disqualified: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
Championship Standings After Round 2
Drivers’ Standings
- Lando Norris – 44 pts
- Max Verstappen – 36 pts
- George Russell – 35 pts
- Oscar Piastri – 34 pts
- Kimi Antonelli – 22 pts
- Alexander Albon – 16 pts
Constructors’ Standings
- McLaren – 78 pts
- Mercedes – 53 pts
- Red Bull – 36 pts
- Williams – 17 pts
- Ferrari – 17 pts
With McLaren surging ahead and Red Bull facing internal struggles, the 2025 season is already shaping up to be a thriller.
Who are you rooting for this year? Let us know in the comments!