The inaugural Chinese Grand Prix had a different outcome compared to its sprint race counterpart. Despite a five-year absence from Shanghai, the Formula 1 race weekend proved to be far from disappointing. Here’s a breakdown of who should be satisfied and those who had a disappointing weekend.
McLaren showcased an impressive performance, overshadowing the pain of the sprint race. This race demonstrated that McLaren can live up to the high expectations set during the pre-season. Oscar Piastri’s damage increased the gap between the two cars, but Norris dominated the entire weekend in terms of race performance. He strategically extended his stints, ensuring that he was not threatened by faster cars behind him. Helmut Marko of Red Bull continues to express interest in having Norris in their car in the future.
Max Verstappen’s dominance in the race highlighted the impact he has on a Red Bull team that is dominant but not invincible. Verstappen’s performance throughout the weekend indicated that he would have achieved what Sergio Perez couldn’t if he had been in Perez’s position during the mid-race stoppage. Verstappen’s qualifying performance, his ability to secure first place in the sprint race, and his pace relative to Perez solidified his position as the frontrunner. Verstappen’s presence allows Red Bull to win races comfortably, even when unexpected challenges arise.
Hulkenberg and Haas secured one point, which is better than none, especially considering the lack of opportunities for midfield teams to score points this season. Haas has exceeded expectations, scoring points in three out of five races. This weekend, they missed out on the final part of sprint qualifying, but they made the most of the main event by ensuring they were in a position to capitalize on any issues faced by the top teams.
Ricciardo had a strong weekend, even though his race was ruined by a collision with Lance Stroll. Despite lacking the pace to score points on merit, Ricciardo consistently outperformed his teammate Yuki Tsunoda. Although he didn’t achieve tangible results, Ricciardo’s performance was commendable.
Stroll’s mistake during the restart denied him the grace he deserved. He was on track to score points, but his lack of contrition for his role in the accident tarnished his performance. Additionally, Ferrari’s weekend was marred by their drivers’ repeated clashes and an underwhelming overall performance.
Alonso secured seven points and the fastest lap for Aston Martin. However, there were missed opportunities for more points due to his exit from the sprint race and the team’s strategy during the safety car pitstops. Aston Martin has the potential to challenge Mercedes, but they are not fully capitalizing on the opportunity.
Sauber’s potential to score points went unrealized once again. Despite being a marginal points contender, they were unable to take advantage of others’ misfortune due to their own engine issues. Sauber currently sits at the bottom of the constructors’ standings, despite having a better car than Williams and Alpine.