Verstappen dominated the field on Saturday, winning the Sprint Race and securing Red Bull’s 100th pole position in Formula One. It is expected that he will continue his success today at a venue where neither Red Bull driver has previously won. With Max in top form, Perez is performing well as his teammate, and anything less than a one-two finish for Red Bull would be disappointing. The real question is not who will win, but by how much the World Champions will win.
The experienced Fernando Alonso leads the charge for Aston Martin, impressing everyone with his third-place finish in Qualifying. He will start behind a motivated Lando Norris, who is looking to make up for his poor start in the Sprint Race. Both drivers are strong contenders for a podium finish alongside the Red Bull drivers.
It is unlikely that Oscar Piatstri will be able to keep up with his teammate Norris throughout the entire race unless he significantly improves his performance. However, the Australian driver has the potential to surprise everyone with a strong showing for McLaren. He is known for his ability to exceed expectations.
Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari, starting in sixth and seventh place respectively, cannot be ruled out for a surprise comeback after a lackluster Saturday. They have admitted to sacrificing pace in Qualifying for the sake of the race today, which will be a strategic challenge.
The driver starting in third place is likely to come from the group starting in positions three to seven, as George Russell in eighth place does not have a car capable of finishing on the podium. Similarly, Lewis Hamilton, a six-time winner of the Chinese GP, will have a tough time starting from 18th on the grid in his Mercedes.
Nico Hulkenberg, starting in ninth place, is in great form as he often is during contract renewal negotiations. He will be aiming for points, as will a motivated Valtteri Bottas in the Stake Sauber. Bottas, who previously won in China with Mercedes, will be looking to make an impact.