Australian Oscar Piastri won the China Grand Prix, the second round of the Formula 1 season on Sunday, ahead of his teammate, the leader in the Lando Norris championship, offering a double to the McLaren stable.
Starting in pole position, Piastri was imperial from start to finish to sign his third success in the elite in China. “It was an incredible weekend, the car was very efficient,” reacted the winner on arrival, in front of well-stocked stands.
Red Bull: Lack of rhythm
“Oscar piloted well, he deserved victory,” praised Norris, victorious last Sunday in Australia for the inaugural round of the season. “I’m happy with this second place, these are good points for me and excellent points for the team with a double.”
The Briton finished in front of his compatriot George Russell (Mercedes), third as in Australia, while the title holder Max Verstappen (Red Bull) failed at the foot of the podium.
Never the Dutchman, fourth on the starting grid, got involved in the battle for the podium. “Mad Max”, who complained about the lack of rhythm of his Red Bull during a good part of the weekend, however seemed to have found speed in the second part of the race, allowing him to recover a fourth place for a long time promised to Charles Leclerc.
Three disqualifications
The Monegasque finished fifth, in front of his teammate Lewis Hamilton, sixth. But the two Ferrari pilots were disqualified after the arrival for non -compliant cars, as well as the French Pierre Gasly (eleventh).
The weight of the Leclerc and Gasly single -seaters turned out to be lower than the limit during weighing after the race. In the case of Hamilton, it is the thickness of the “board” placed under the car which was not in accordance with. Leclerc and Hamilton as well as Ferrari therefore lose the points scored at the end of the GP.
Three two -point pilots
In the pilot championship, Norris has 44 points, eight points more than Verstappen, still second with 36 points. The Red Bull driver is followed by Russell (35) and Piastri (34), the three standing in just two points.
The third Grand Prix of the season is scheduled for early April in Japan.
