2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix Highlights

Oscar Piastri showcased unwavering resilience as he bounced back triumphantly from the disappointment of his late-race error at the 2025 season opener in Australia. The young driver turned adversity into triumph at the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, converting his pole position into a dominant victory, leading a McLaren 1-2 finish alongside teammate Lando Norris.

Piastri’s strategic brilliance was on full display as he controlled the 56-lap race at the Shanghai International Circuit from start to finish. In a race where the strategic choice between one or two pit stops played a crucial role, Piastri managed his pace flawlessly across two stints, building and maintaining a comfortable gap to Norris.

Norris, demonstrating impeccable teamwork, kept Piastri within striking distance despite facing late-race brake issues. McLaren’s pit wall managed the situation expertly, advising Norris to prioritize caution to secure the team’s flawless result.

Meanwhile, George Russell, starting behind due to a slow getaway, mounted a spirited challenge on Norris during the pit stop phase but ultimately settled for a commendable second place.

Max Verstappen, anticipating challenges following Red Bull’s Sprint race struggles, maintained fourth position throughout, maintaining a gap ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who collided on the opening lap.

Leclerc valiantly soldiered on with a damaged front wing, opting not to pit for repairs, while Hamilton pursued an aggressive two-stop strategy to recover lost ground, setting a series of fastest laps but falling short of a podium finish.

Further down the order, Esteban Ocon delivered a stellar performance to claim seventh for Haas, marking a significant turnaround after a challenging start to the season. Kimi Antonelli secured eighth for Mercedes, followed by Alex Albon of Williams and his teammate Ollie Bearman, who defended against strong challenges from Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll.

Carlos Sainz continued his adaptation at Williams with a 13th-place finish, while Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls crossed the line 14th after an eventful race involving a late incident with Jack Doohan, resulting in a penalty for the Alpine rookie.

Red Bull’s Liam Lawson struggled to 15th place, followed by Doohan, Gabriel Bortoleto, Nico Hulkenberg in the struggling Kick Saubers, and Yuki Tsunoda of Racing Bulls, who required an additional pit stop due to front wing damage. Fernando Alonso retired early from the race due to brake issues.

The post-race drama unfolded with disqualifications for Leclerc, Gasly, and Hamilton due to technical infringements, reshuffling the top ten and promoting Ocon, Antonelli, Albon, and Bearman into higher points-scoring positions while elevating Stroll and Sainz into the points-paying places.

One of the key takeaways from this Grand Prix was the performance of the Hard compound on this circuit. Data collected over the first two days, particularly from the Sprint race, provided teams with valuable insights into adjusting car setups to protect the front axle, which was the most susceptible to graining. As the track evolved, graining on the Medium compound decreased compared to what was observed in the Sprint. However, for some teams, tyre wear remained a concern. Meanwhile, the Hard compound exhibited only limited graining and, more importantly, delivered consistent performance over extended stints. This allowed drivers to push aggressively in the closing laps, as demonstrated by Max Verstappen. When evaluating the C2 compound’s behaviour, it’s important to note that it has undergone the most significant modifications of any in the 2025 range, making it an unknown variable for all teams heading into the weekend.

Overall, the race provided an exhilarating spectacle on a track that, thanks to its surface characteristics, enabled significant performance improvements. Notably, today’s fastest race lap was 2.741 seconds quicker than last year’s, set under similar conditions. Lewis Hamilton posted this fastest lap on lap 41, compared to Fernando Alonso’s benchmark from lap 45 in the previous season. With the first double-header of the season now concluded, Formula 1 enters a short break before an intense triple-header on three distinctly different circuits. Each promises exciting racing, starting with Suzuka in early April.

The day on the track:

On the starting grid, 17 drivers opted for the Medium tyre for their first stint, while Lance Stroll and Oliver Bearman chose the Hard. Liam Lawson also started on the C2 compound but was forced to begin from the pit lane due to a penalty. Despite initial projections favouring a two-stop strategy, race conditions and tyre performance—especially concerning the Hard compound, which had not been used in the preceding two days—prompted most teams to switch to a one-stop approach. This strategic pivot added an extra layer of intrigue, keeping fans on the edge of their seats as teams adapted in real-time.

Those who started on the Medium tyre pitted for the C2 between laps 10 and 20, with Pierre Gasly the first to stop and Alex Albon and Nico Hülkenberg among the last. Meanwhile, the three drivers who began on the Hard compound ran varying stint lengths: Lawson pitted on lap 18, Bearman on lap 26, and Stroll extended his first stint until lap 36. Gabriel Bortoleto had an unconventional race strategy, making an early pit stop on the opening lap to switch to the Hard before taking on another set of C2s after 25 laps.

In the latter half of the race, the Hard tyre proved its worth, showing minimal degradation and enabling strong performance until the finish. Three drivers—Hamilton and both Racing Bulls—opted for a second stop, while the rest of the field committed to a one-stop strategy. Of the drivers who initially started on the Hard, both Stroll and Bearman switched to the Medium compound for their second stint, demonstrating the versatility of strategic choices throughout the race.

With its mix of evolving track conditions, strategic shake-ups, and impressive tyre resilience, this Grand Prix provided a fascinating showcase of team adaptability and performance under varying conditions. As the season progresses, the lessons learned here will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping future race strategies.

2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix Race Results

2025 Constructor Standings

Here are the team-by-team highlights:

Hear from McLaren Formula 1 drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Team Principal Andrea Stella after the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix.

Oscar gets a clean start from Pole and retains position, while Lando makes up a place on Russell to P2. The drivers start to struggle with graining on the Medium compound. Oscar comes into the pits on Lap 14 for a set of Hard tyres. One lap later, Lando also pits for Hards, but the undercut proves powerful, and he loses a position to Russell. Lando gets back past Russell a few laps later. The race settles down with the papaya boys running in P1 and P2, showcasing their unity and team spirit. In the race’s closing stages, Lando starts to have a problem with his brake pedal. Russell closes up to Lando on the final lap, but not enough to overtake. Lando and Oscar cross the line and take McLaren’s 50th one-two!

Lando Norris, Driver, McLaren Racing

Overall, today’s race was incredibly challenging, with tyre management playing a crucial role, but we delivered a strong result. The one-stop strategy wasn’t widely expected, yet the team executed it flawlessly, securing valuable points. We’ll thoroughly debrief the weekend, analyzing both the positives and the areas for improvement as we prepare for Japan next month. A massive thank you to everyone in Papaya for their dedication and support—it truly made a difference this weekend!

Oscar Piastri, Driver, McLaren Racing

It’s been an absolutely incredible weekend, and the car has felt mega from start to finish. The tyres behaved quite differently compared to the earlier sessions in China, but we executed a fantastic race this afternoon. The support from the grandstands and all the passionate papaya fans has been phenomenal, and we can take immense pride in the 1-2 result we’ve earned through sheer dedication and hard work. Now, I’m looking forward to some valuable time back at the factory as we prepare for the intense triple-header ahead.

Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren Racing

I’m thrilled to come away from the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix with a 1-2, the 50th in McLaren’s history. Oscar has been very impressive throughout the weekend, securing a well-deserved Pole and victory at a circuit he found tricky 12 months ago. On Lando’s side, he showed a very strong pace throughout the race. We were managing an issue towards the end of the race, which added some tension, but both Lando and the team handled the situation well and were able to bring home the 1-2.

Overall, there are several things we learned this weekend. We would have liked to have scored more points in the Sprint, but we must recognise how competitive the field is, and I’m pleased with how the team reacted as we transitioned into Qualifying and the Grand Prix, learning from the Sprint and making improvements which made today’s result possible. My thanks, as always, go to the men and women at McLaren for their hard work and support, to our colleagues at HPP and the team’s committed partners, as well as our drivers for their teamwork both on and off the track. We now take some time to regroup back at Woking before heading to Japan for the first race of the triple-header.

George Russell finished third and Kimi Antonelli battled home to P8, despite floor damage, at the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix. George Russell lined up on the front row alongside the McLaren of Oscar Piastri for the 56-lap race. As the lights went out, George made the better start but couldn’t quite pass the Australian; as he backed out, Lando Norris was able to get ahead.

Kimi, meanwhile, started P8 and gained one position by passing the Racing Bull of Isaac Hadjar. Unfortunately, he suffered significant floor damage that compromised his entire race, likely from running over debris. Nevertheless, the Italian battled on gamely. After switching to the Hard compound, he fought the other Racing Bull of Yuki Tsunoda and ultimately used a one-stop strategy to finish P8.

George meanwhile controlled his pace throughout before deploying the undercut to regain Norris for P2. Ultimately, the pace of the McLarens was too strong, and Norris retook the second position during the second stint. Nevertheless, George drove a faultless race to maximise the result, take P3, and make it back-to-back podiums to start the year and an all-Mercedes-powered top-three.

George’s P3 marks Mercedes-Benz’s 300th podium in F1 as a works team and his best start to an F1 season after two races. The team returns to Brackley after this opening double-header before kicking off the Japan/Bahrain/Saudi Arabia triple-header in two weeks.

George Russell, Driver, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

P3 was the absolute maximum we could achieve today, so we can be delighted with the result and secure our second podium in as many races as possible to start the season. I got off to a strong start and gave everything to take the lead from Oscar (Piastri), but he defended well. It was unfortunate not to make the pass and then to lose position to Lando, but credit to Oscar—he did a great job holding his ground. Ultimately, the McLarens just had the edge on us today. As much as we want to be in the fight with them, at the moment, we’re not quite there. Given that, we must be satisfied with being ‘best of the rest’ this weekend.

It has been a really positive start to our season. We finished P3 in Melbourne, P4 in the Sprint yesterday, and another P3 today. The consistency is there, and the car is feeling strong. Now, our focus is on pushing, finding more pace, and closing the gap to the leaders.

Kimi Antonelli, Driver, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

It was a tough race after I picked up floor damage on lap one. It looks like I ran over some debris, which significantly impacted performance—especially with rear-end stability, which caught me off guard. That really affected my pace, but it was a valuable learning experience in managing the situation. Even though P8 wasn’t what we aimed for, I’m still happy that we could bring some points home.

Thank you to the fans for voting me Driver of the Day! Given how my race unfolded, I wasn’t expecting that at all, but it means a lot to have that support.

Overall, I’m pleased with how I and the team have started the season. So far, one of my biggest takeaways has been the importance of nailing Qualifying. If I can put it all together on a Saturday, we’ll start further up the grid, avoid early incidents, and maximise the car’s potential. I’m excited to return to work ahead of the upcoming triple-header and return stronger for Japan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.

Toto Wolff, Team Principal & CEO, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team

That was a solid afternoon’s work. A podium was our realistic best-case scenario today, and we delivered on that. We knew McLaren would be strong, and with Ferrari and Verstappen in the mix, it would always be a challenge.

I don’t often give out 10 out of 10 ratings, as there’s always room for improvement, but today, George was faultless. He maximized everything from the car; that was a perfect drive for me. He has started this season in exceptional form, performing exactly as we knew he would in his role as the senior driver.

Kimi’s race was unfortunately compromised by the floor damage he sustained on lap one. Despite carrying a significant performance deficit, he kept his head down and fought hard to bring home P8. He didn’t complain once—he just got on with the job, and that’s precisely the attitude we want to see.

Overall, it’s been a strong start to the season. We always aim to win but don’t take that for granted. Our car isn’t quite at McLaren’s level, but the entire team is pushing hard to close that gap. For now, we’re extracting the most from what we have, and leaving China second in the Constructors’ Championship, with two podiums in two races, is a satisfying position to be in.

Max Verstappen dug deep in Shanghai on Sunday to finish fourth at the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix behind the McLaren 1-2 of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris and secure 12 crucial 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship points in the defence of his drivers’ title.

Oracle Red Bull Racing teammate Liam Lawson finished in 15th but rose to 12th following post-race disqualifications to three drivers. He will look for a better overall performance when the F1 paddock moves on to the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka in early April.

Max Verstappen, Driver, Red Bull Racing

Today, the beginning of the race was quite tough on mediums. We set out to do our pace, which was slower than the cars around us, as we worked to try not to destroy our tyres. It was a tough beginning on the hard tyre, but on the second stint, the performance was much more promising, and we saw a lot more pace in the car. The last 19 laps were more positive and better than expected, as we had equal lap times to the front runners. We were handling the car better and had a lot more grip on the tyres, so everything looked more hopeful, and it was more fun to drive. We can take a lot of lessons from this weekend, and hopefully, this means we can see a better performance in Japan, especially on a circuit that I enjoy driving at. We still have a lot of work to do, as we are not where we want to be, and our car is not that easy to drive, but at least the final stint was more promising, and there is a lot that we can go back and analyse. Overall, it was nice racing in Shanghai: it is a great track and great city.

Liam Lawson, Driver, Red Bull Racing:

It was pretty tough out there; starting from the pitlane, we tried something different, and it was a gamble to try and figure out the set-up of the car. We tried to do something aggressive, which didn’t work; it was quite a big step, but we struggled with pace, and the car felt more tricky than Melbourne. Our pace in the Sprint yesterday was better. It is not something you can put into words; it is a tiny window with this car, and if you miss it, it is very penalising. The more we drive, the more we try stuff and learn from it; unfortunately, it didn’t go in the right direction today. I need to drive this car faster. It has nothing to do with external pressure, but the team has been extremely supportive. It is a unique track here, but we will reflect and learn from it in the future.

CHRISTIAN HORNER, CEO and Team Principal

That was a race of two halves from Max today, following up after a strong sprint weekend here in Shanghai. As you can see, we didn’t have the straight line speed today; the Ferrari was properly quick on the straight. Max delivered when needed and made a great pass on Charles to finish fourth. It was a tough day for Liam at the office; he struggled at points and had some issues with balance. We have plenty to look at after today. We gave away too much in the first stint and need to understand the limitations. We were competitive in the race’s second half but had given up too much ground at that point. There are many lessons to take, and we know where we need to improve, but we still managed to come away with 12 points and have kept it close with the top competitors these first two flyaways, and we’ll look to do more with Japan up next.

Scuderia Ferrari HP leaves the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix with 30 points, the second-highest team score of the weekend, although well aware there is plenty of work to close the gap to the leaders. After a win for Lewis Hamilton and a fifth place for Charles Leclerc in yesterday’s Sprint race, the Monegasque finished in the same position today, one spot ahead of his team-mate.

They both did their best, but the SF-25’s pace slowed with a damaged front wing in Leclerc’s and could not deliver more. However, it is just the start of the season, and the gaps are all very close, so an improvement of just a few tenths could result in significant gains. It’s a Formula 1 truism that if you can’t win, try to bring home as many points as possible, and the team managed that today. It splits the strategy between the drivers to give them the best possible chance.

The race. Both Ferraris got off the line well, getting the jump on Max Verstappen to move up to fourth and fifth. Lewis and Charles were on two different lines going into the first corner, and they came dangerously close to the following left-hander, touching slightly. It left Charles without a left front wing endplate, but the team did not pit him for a new nose as car performance was still good, and they did not want to waste the eight or so seconds required for the change. Lewis was the first of the pair to struggle on the Medium tyres, so he pitted on lap 13 to switch to Hards. Charles came in two laps later, after which the decision was taken to swap their positions, a choice Hamilton suggested given that Leclerc had better pace, which allowed him to finish fourth. Having pitted earlier, Lewis needed to pit again for another set of Hards, whereas Charles could go all the way to the flag. In the closing stages, Hamilton set off in pursuit of Verstappen, showing excellent pace. But the Dutchman defended brilliantly before overtaking Leclerc with three laps remaining. Therefore, the Ferraris finished fifth and sixth, bringing home 18 points.

A break before the first triple-header. The team heads home to analyse all the data from the first two races. So far, the SF-25 has only shown its true potential occasionally, and it will be vital to ensure that it can do that consistently in the future. Racing resumes in a fortnight in Japan, the first of a triple-header, followed by Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Charles Leclerc, Driver, Scuderia Ferrari

We had a really good race car today and the pace to fight with the guys in the front. Unfortunately, my front wing was damaged at the start. I took the inside line at turn 1, while Lewis was more to the outside. I didn’t know I was there, and I didn’t expect him to return to the inside, so it was just an unfortunate incident.

I lost quite a lot of downforce from the damage, and we did a good job of making it to the end in that shape. We decided not to change the front wing during the pitstop since that would mean losing 8 seconds and overtaking a few cars to recover positions. I gave it my all to overtake George (Russell), but we struggled quite a bit in Turn 12 compared to him, which made it impossible to pass him.

It could have been a better day for our team, but seeing that our race pace is there is positive. The enormous amount of support from the grandstands this weekend was great to see and put a smile on my face.

Lewis Hamilton, Driver, Scuderia Ferrari

It was a tough day but a positive weekend overall, and we’ve made some good progress since Melbourne. We tried some new setup changes for qualifying, and the race didn’t work out, but that’s a learning we can take forward.

I got a good start off the line but struggled with pace as the race continued, so I suggested swapping with Charles to maximise our opportunities as a team. The two-stop strategy helped find some good pace towards the final few laps, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to gain places.

We’ll go through everything, take what we learn, and return stronger. It’s a long road to the championship, and we’ll keep pushing.

Frédéric Vasseur – Team Principal, Scuderia Ferrari

It was tough today with strange situations. On one side of the garage, there was damage to the front wing for Charles, and on the other side, it was more difficult for Lewis after yesterday, when his tyre management was excellent, while today, he struggled more. For him, the two-stop was the right choice as tyre degradation was quite significant, and if the others had to pit, it would have made sense. Now, we will have to look into it to understand why we struggled more than expected. Tyre management was complex for everyone, with tyres struggling and then coming back. It’s hard to read, but we can take some positives, such as Charles’s excellent pace despite the damage to his front wing. In these conditions, we finished 20 seconds behind McLaren and 10 seconds behind Mercedes. We need to do a better job to ensure we always exploit the car’s potential, and we will focus on this immediately.

Team statement after Leclerc and Hamilton are disqualified in China

Following the FIA post-race scrutineering, both our cars were found not to conform to the regulations for different reasons.
Car 16 was found to be underweight by 1 kg, and car 44’s rearward skid wear was found to be 0.5mm below the limit.

Charles was on a one-stop strategy today, and this meant his tyre wear was very high, causing the car to be underweight.
With regard to Lewis’ skid wear, we misjudged the consumption by a small margin.

There was no intention to gain any advantage.
We will learn from what happened today and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again. Clearly, it’s not the way we wanted to end our Chinese GP weekend, neither for ourselves nor for our fans, whose support for us is unwavering.

The second race of the season-opening double-header ended in mixed fortunes. Get the thoughts of Lance, Fernando, and the team following the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix weekend.

A mixed Sunday both in terms of the result on track and the weather in Melbourne, rain before and during the Grand Prix made an already slippery Albert Park Circuit track surface even more treacherous, ensuring a challenging 57-lap race.

Fernando Alonso, Driver, Aston Martin F1 Team

It was a challenging race today with the wet conditions, and I was a little unlucky in the end. I was battling inside the top 10 and felt like I was in the mix with others around me. I drove the same line at Turn Six, but there was some gravel there, which caused me to lose control.

There are some weaknesses in the car that we need to tackle, but if we execute a good weekend,d then it looks like we can score points this season. We have another trip next week to China.

Lance Stroll, Driver, Aston Martin F1 Team

That was a super tricky race, so it’s good to come away with some big points for the team. I’m happy with that, for sure. We knew from the start that it was about staying on track and being on the right tyre at the right time, and we did that today. It’s always a real balance of risk versus reward in these changing conditions. You’ve got to stay clean and consistent.

The team made a great call, bringing me in for the Intermediate tyres towards the end of the race. They were across the forecast, and we made up positions because of it. The car still isn’t where we want it to be – we’ve got to keep pushing for improvements – but that makes it even more important to make the most of opportunities like we did today.

Andy Cowell, CEO & Team Principal, Aston Martin F1 Team

Eight points for Lance is a great way to start our season. Conditions were incredibly challenging for everyone, but he delivered an excellent race to navigate his way to sixth place [from P13]. He maximised every opportunity and did not put a wheel out of place all race.

Our strategy calls from the pit wall was strong, and it was a great team performance. We had a solid opportunity to score with both cars today, but Fernando was unlucky with some gravel on the exit of Turn Six, sending him into the wall on lap 33. This result gives us a nice boost as we head to China, but it’s clear we need to work hard to improve the car for the long season ahead of us.

Visa Cash App Racing Bulls duo Isack Hadjar and Yuki Tsunoda struggled to improve on their impressive Saturday Sprint Race and qualifying displays and finished in 11th and 16th, respectively.

Yuki Tsunoda, Driver, VCARB F1 Team

I’m very disappointed—I was definitely expecting more. This is not how I wanted to end up in this race. We lacked the pace we had in the Sprint, so we need to analyze what went wrong. Strategy is another area we need to review—I understand the reasoning behind it, but the key takeaway is how to prevent these situations in the future. The front wing damage was frustrating; perhaps it was debris, but we’ll investigate. Some things were just unfortunate. On the bright side, I scored points in the Sprint, which is valuable, and we know the car has a strong pace. Now, we stay positive and focus on Suzuka—my motivation is already there.

Isack Hadjar, Driver, VCARB F1 Team

It’s frustrating and disappointing because we definitely expected to score points today. I had a strong start that put us in a good position, though, in hindsight, I could have managed the first lap better to avoid some of the chaos. The car felt great all weekend, and our pace was consistently strong throughout the race. I was able to stay close to the cars ahead on the same tyres, which shows how competitive we were. Unfortunately, what happened was beyond my control, but I can’t help but wonder how things might have played out in a one-stop strategy race. We’ll analyze everything with the team and come back stronger in Japan.

Laurent Mekies, Team Principal, VCARB F1 Team

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team secured an impressive double points finish at the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, with Esteban Ocon delivering a stellar drive to fifth place and Oliver Bearman claiming eighth after 56 demanding laps around the Shanghai International Circuit.

Esteban Ocon, Driver, Haas F1 Team

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal, Haas F1 Team

Atlassian Williams Racing continued its strong start to the 2025 Formula 1 season with a double-points finish in Round 2 at the Chinese Grand Prix. Alex Albon delivered an impressive drive to secure P7, while teammate Carlos Sainz claimed P10, adding valuable points to the team’s tally.

The final standings were reshuffled after post-race disqualifications for three competitors, elevating both Williams drivers up the order. Initially, Alex and Carlos crossed the line in P9 and P13, respectively, following a race defined by evolving tyre strategies that limited overtaking opportunities. Despite the challenges, the team executed a well-managed race to capitalize on the circumstances and maximize their points haul.

With this result, Atlassian Williams Racing builds momentum heading into the next round, showcasing its potential in the early stages of the championship.

Alex Albon, Driver, Williams Racing

Carlos Sainz, Driver, Williams Racing

Pierre Gasly started from P16 on used Medium tyres and initially crossed the line in P11 at the 2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix before being disqualified post-race due to a technical infringement. He made a pit stop on Lap 10 for new Hard tyres and set his fastest lap at 1:36.425.

Jack Doohan started from P18 on used Medium tyres and finished P16 on track, later being classified P13 in the final standings. He pitted on Lap 11 for new Hard tyres and clocked his fastest lap at 1:36.424

Jack Doohan, Driver, Alpine F1 Team

It was great to complete a full race distance this weekend and gain valuable experience. There were definitely a lot of lessons learned, and I’m pleased with our pace, particularly towards the end of the race. It was also great to be involved in some exciting battles on track. I think we showed some of our potential, especially by holding off Isack [Hadjar] and keeping him behind in the RB for over 20 laps, which is no small feat given their speed all weekend. Unfortunately, the penalty we received was a setback, but we’ll review it thoroughly to make sure it doesn’t happen again. All in all, I’m happy with the progress we’ve made as a team so far through testing and the first two races, but we know there’s still plenty of work to do. We’ll stay focused on Japan and aim to bring home some points for the team.

Pierre Gasly, Driver, Alpine F1 Team

It was a challenging race today, and unfortunately, we found ourselves in a similar position to last week—finishing 11th, just outside of the points. To make matters worse, a technical infringement after the race led to a disqualification. From a racing perspective, though, the unexpected tyre degradation caught many teams off guard. The degradation was much lower than anticipated, which made the one-stop strategy viable. We opted to extend our second stint after pitting early, but we couldn’t convert that strategy into points. Overall, it’s been a tough weekend, and we haven’t been as competitive as we hoped. We’ll review the first two race weekends as a team and analyze what worked well and where we need to improve. Missing out on points twice is disappointing, but we’re determined to improve, and I’m confident we will. Japan is up next, and we’ll be aiming to come back stronger and push ourselves up the order.

Oliver Oakes, Team Principal, Alpine F1 Team

Today was a more positive day compared to Qualifying, with both Pierre and Jack making progress during the race. After the high degradation and graining we experienced in the Sprint yesterday, the key question was whether to go for a one-stop or two-stop strategy. As the track conditions improved, we opted for the one-stop strategy, running the Hard tyres all the way to the end. Pierre did a fantastic job making up three positions on the opening lap, just like in the Sprint, and finished 11th. Unfortunately, he was disqualified after the race due to a technical infringement. Jack showed a comparable pace to those around him and had some good battles on track. Ultimately, we weren’t as competitive as we would’ve liked, and we need to understand why we struggled at this particular circuit. We’ll focus on analyzing our performance and identifying areas for improvement as we move forward.

Stake F1 Team KICK Sauber experienced a challenging  2025 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, with both drivers encountering setbacks that prevented a strong result. Gabriel Bortoleto’s race was compromised early on after he spun into the gravel, forcing him to pit at the end of lap one for a fresh set of tyres. Meanwhile, Nico Hülkenberg sustained significant damage on the opening lap, which severely affected his performance for the remainder of the race.

Now that the Shanghai weekend is behind them, the team shifts focus to the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix, with plans to use the break to assess key learnings. The goal is to return to competitive form and re-enter the points battle ahead of the demanding triple-header that lies ahead.

Nico Hulkenberg, Driver, Kick Sauber F1 Team

Today has been a real character-building day for all of us. Unfortunately, right after the start, I went wide in Turn 1 and then nearly lost the car in Turn 3 when I ran off track through the gravel. That cost me a couple of positions, but more frustratingly, I picked up significant damage to the floor of the car, which severely impacted the aero balance. Despite that, I think our pace wasn’t too bad, considering the damage we had to carry. The silver lining from today is that we finished the race and gained valuable mileage, which allowed us to familiarize ourselves with the new car further. It’s still early days in the season, and I’m already looking forward to getting back out there in Suzuka in two weeks’ time.

Gabriel Bortoleto, Driver, Kick Sauber F1 Team

Today was definitely far from an ideal race. After Lap 1, it was all about recovery and trying to gather as much data as possible about the car’s performance. Although our position wasn’t where we wanted it to be, it was beneficial to be able to continue and finish the race, especially as it was my first full-dry race. I took it as a valuable opportunity to learn more about tyre management and gauge our pace while also understanding how we compare to the others. It’s hard to say where we might have been with a cleaner race, and I definitely wanted this weekend to be more positive. But it is what it is—we now move forward, head back to the factory, and thoroughly analyze the lessons learned from these first two races. We’ll prepare for Suzuka, and I’m genuinely excited about racing there. I’ve spent a lot of time practising on the simulator, and I can’t wait to experience the real track finally.

Beat Zehnder, Director Signature Programs & Operations, Kick Sauber F1 Team

It’s truly unfortunate that our race was largely decided in the opening lap. Nico experienced a significant snap in Turn 3 and nearly spun, but he managed to save it. Unfortunately, in the process, he ran over the kerb and gravel, which caused a substantial loss in aerodynamic performance, as revealed by the telemetry. This made the race extremely challenging for him. However, Nico deserves credit for bringing the car to the finish despite these difficult conditions. Gabriel also faced challenges early on. After a close battle with Bearman, he lost downforce and spun, which cost him a lot of time and forced an early pit stop for new tyres. From that point on, it was always going to be a struggle to recover. On a more positive note, Gabriel’s pace during the final stint on hard tyres was impressive, matching the pace of our direct competitors. The key takeaway from today is that both cars finished the race, our overall performance throughout the weekend was encouraging, and our operations ran smoothly—even with the added complications from yesterday’s incident in the Sprint race. That said, there is still much work to be done. The field is incredibly tight, and every small improvement counts. The team that can bring those extra tenths to the track first will hold the advantage, so we must keep pushing relentlessly.