2025 Chinese Grand Prix [Shanghai] March 21-23

[Cs98]

Ocon should've been DotD.

[Juzh]

Meh race.. Not much to say, except I think hamilton broke all time speed record with 351+ kmh, but dont quote me on that.

[kurtj]

Ferrari tried alternate approach with Lewis and it didn't work. Leclerc wasn't going to do anything with that damaged wing.

It's lonely race for the top 4, courtesy of Pirelli. They try to be aggressive with tires and drivers go in ultra management mode to stick to one stop. Such a procession on a good racing track. They should mandate 2 stop, otherwise it's going to me like this every race.

[ringo]

Boring race, with each year of these regs, overtaking and dirty air has drifted to the times of the more winged and barge board cars. And those cars were simply more fun to watch.
Clean win by Oscar and good management by Lando.
Russel continues to impress.. he is lining up to be champion this year if Mercedes gives him a good step with upgrades.
Ferrari can get 2nd in championship again by default. Max and Russel teammates are nowhere.

[Seerix]

Didn't someone ask for more durable tyres? Well there you go.

[Bill_Kar]

Not the worst race I've seen, they have been far more processional races due to tyre conservation, at least Chinese GP gave us some exciting midfield battles and strategies. For example, I thought Stroll was doing a brilliant job of banking a P7-P8, but then you realise that everyone will be on a one-stopper, yeahhh.

McLaren looking sublime at the front, but it's not the domination that many folk talk about, comparing to 2020 Mercedes or 2023 Red Bull. Russell, pace-wise, kept them honest most of the race. But certainly McLaren had the edge and overall very good race from both their drivers.

Interesting that Verstappen seemed way off the pace until the middle of the second stint. I'm not ruling him out at all. He has capitalised on every opportunity so far, if Red Bull can find something during the next upgrade period, at least it will make it interesting.

Ferrari baffles me once more. Strategy was good, I mean Hamilton certainly lacked pace so a two-stopper was a cost-free strategy, but Leclerc as well seemed feisty behind Hamilton, and then after a couple of laps in the dirty air of Russell, he dropped to nowhere. I don't know if it's setup changes, fuel loads, temperatures, but the car has a lot of temperament.

[Ben1980]

I'm a Mclaren fan, a 1 and 2 is great.

But as an F1 fan, that was pretty awful. Tyre managing for over 40 laps is really dull.

The only drama was Lando Norris long brake pedal.

Tyre deg is fun!

[bauc]

I'm a Mclaren fan, a 1 and 2 is great.

But as an F1 fan, that was pretty awful. Tyre managing for over 40 laps is really dull.

The only drama was Lando Norris long brake pedal.

Tyre deg is fun!

I agree 100%, plus the China track has that yoyo effect, where cars get close to each other in S1 but then S2 is pain, they fall off in the back and then end of S3 and start of S1 get close again, and the same goes on for 56 laps without any real chance of close battles between the drivers.

[Juzh]

Didn't someone ask for more durable tyres? Well there you go.

This wasn't a push race as we see in lets say jeddah or qatar, it was 40 laps of tyres barely holding in the window, and mediums were a pain.

[Ben1980]

Durable tyres are great if they don't get killed in dirty air, and you can actually push them.

I dobt mind degrading tyres though, but at least make them degrade. Plodding around managing is just yawn.

[djones]

They should mandate all 3 compounds in the race to try and stop tyre saving bore fests.

That or make the hard what is now medium.

[renault rs26]

Boring race, with each year of these regs, overtaking and dirty air has drifted to the times of the more winged and barge board cars. And those cars were simply more fun to watch.
Clean win by Oscar and good management by Lando.
Russel continues to impress.. he is lining up to be champion this year if Mercedes gives him a good step with upgrades.
Ferrari can get 2nd in championship again by default. Max and Russel teammates are nowhere.

Russel's teammate is ahead of both Ferrari drivers in the championship.

[DGP123]

Dire, dire race. Soon as Macca’s got the clean air, the race was done. Nothing happened behind. Anti climax so far. Roll on 26’, if this continues, as Macca’s should take both championships.

[Tvetovnato]

Oscar, what a drive and what a weekend. His defence against Russell at the start was masterful, placing himself not too much on the inside to compromise his own line, but also making sure that Russell doesn't risk sending it up the inside. Controlling it from there. In a season where it could be likely that one team dominates, an intra team battle is exactly what is needed. With the first real pole in the bag, and the first race where he looked to be in control convincingly all the way through, it's truly game on from here I believe.

[CrazyCarperF1]

I wish they could find a super safe way to bring back refuelling, strategies need a shakeup.