Shanghai — Another F1 race. Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing claims yet another victory.
The three-time defending champion won the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday from pole position, his fourth victory in five races this season and his 23rd in the past 27 dating back to last season.
Only a brake issue last month at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne likely prevented him from sweeping all five.
Verstappen trailed for only a few circuits after his pit stop. Lando Norris of McLaren finished second, roughly 14 seconds behind Verstappen, for the ninth race in his career as he pursued his maiden victory. Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate, finished third.
Another Race, Another Victory For Red Bull’s Max Verstappen At Chinese GP
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari and Carlos Sainz of Aston Martin finished fourth and fifth, respectively, holding off Mercedes driver George Russell and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in sixth and seventh.
The remaining points finishers were Oscar Piastri of McLaren, Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, and Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg in tenth.
Verstappen leads the standings with 110 points, followed by Perez (85), Leclerc (76), Sainz (69), and Norris (58).
“It felt amazing,” Verstappen remarked. “All weekend, we were really fast, and it was just fun to drive. The automobile was basically on rails, so I could do whatever I wanted with it. Those types of weekends are incredible to experience.”
Verstappen was asked if this was the most dominant victory of his career.
“It was a good one, yeah,” he remarked without elaborating.
The next Grand Prix is in Miami on May 5. Will Verstappen dominate the street race?
“It’s a completely different track,” he remarked. It has different tires and different tarmac. So, you never know.
The safety car appeared twice during the race. Once after, Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas halted at the track’s edge with a blown engine and then again in two virtually simultaneous incidents.
Kevin Magnussen clipped Yuki Tsunoda in one, while Lance Stroll collided with Daniel Ricciardo in the other.
Verstappen’s dominance in Formula One continued on Saturday as he won the season’s first sprint race.
Verstappen, who won in Japan two weeks ago, was critical of racing a sprint in China. He hasn’t modified his mind much, despite winning.
“The sprint format was better,” Verstappen explained. “But let’s not overdo it either. We already have 24 races scheduled, including six sprint events. I got it. I guess it’s selling better and better. But it also puts extra stress on the machinery.”
Another Race, Another Victory For Red Bull’s Max Verstappen At Chinese GP
“We take it,” Verstappen said. “We need to deal with it. But we don’t need 12 right now since it will take a toll on people as well.”
Norris echoed Verstappen.
“The main point is the toll it has on mechanics and engineers,” he went on to say. “To be honest, I don’t believe it’s that horrible for us drivers. I don’t think we can complain at all. There are hundreds of mechanics and engineers here who must travel extensively. It’s unhealthy for them.”
This was the first Formula One race in China since 2019, after the COVID-19 outbreak and China’s clampdown cancelled four events. Shanghai-born Zhou Guanyu finished 14th for Sauber, maybe his last chance to race at home, as teams will alter their driver lineups next season.
He squatted on the tarmac after the race and covered his face, with the audience chanting “Guanyu, Guanyu, Guanyu.”
The true competition in Formula One for the remainder of the season appears to be for the half-dozen positions below Verstappen and Perez. Mercedes’ George Russell dubbed it a “fight” for positions 3 through 8.
“Small differences can have a major impact,” Russell added.
Domination is nothing new in Formula One. Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton ruled before Verstappen arrived, with Schumacher and Hamilton winning seven season titles and Vettel four.
Another Race, Another Victory For Red Bull’s Max Verstappen At Chinese GP
Verstappen and Red Bull are certain to dominate next season. That could change in 2026 when new engine and chassis regulations take effect in Formula One.
Miami will have a celebrity paddock. There was also a celebrity parade in China, with former basketball player Yao Ming and double Olympic champion skier Eileen Gu appearing for photos in the paddock and on the course before the race began.
SOURCE – (AP)
