Berlin, 23 March 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Oscar Piastri made the most of his first career pole to win the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix from team-mate Lando Norris in a demonstration of McLaren strength in Shanghai on Sunday.

Piastri only came under pressure heading into the first turn in Shanghai before pulling away and claiming a third career victory.

Championship leader Norris completed the McLaren one-two despite major brakes pedal problems in the late stages, and Mercedes driver George Russell was third on the podium.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was unable to follow up on his sprint victory from Saturday and placed sixth, behind reigning world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull and his team-mate Charles Leclerc, after Verstappen gained a position late on.

Hamilton was the only top driver on a two-stop strategy while the others pitted only once for fresh tyres.

McLaren live up to top billing

McLaren were always tipped to be the team to beat this season and have so far lived up to it by winning both grands prix, from Norris in Australia and Piastri in China.

They missed a one-two in the wet Australian race because Piastri went off late to finish ninth but made amends in China where Piastri also came second in the sprint.

"I'm just so proud of the whole weekend. This is what I feel like I deserved from last week. The team did a mega job with the one-two. I'm very happy," Piastri said.

"It's been an incredible weekend from start to finish. The car's been pretty mega the whole time."

Norris was surprised how well the one-stop strategy worked but named the late brake problems "my worst nightmare.

"It's scary! If I have a nightmare it's when the brakes are failing and I was losing two three four seconds the last couple of laps. So I was a bit scared but we survived and got to the end.

"I am happy with second, it's good points and great points for us as a team with a one-two. Just how we wanted the race to go," he added.

Norris leads the championship with 44 points from Verstappen (36), Russell (35) and Piastri (34).

Verstappen was well off the pace and will face a hard time to get a record-equalling fifth straight title.

"We are worried, but it's not like we're throwing in the towel just yet," Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko told Sky TV.

How the race unfolded

Piastri won the start from his first ever pole and Norris sneaked past Russell into second in the first turns while both Ferraris got the better of Verstappen who dropped from fourth to sixth.

Hamilton and team-mate Leclerc made contact in the hectic start phase which damaged Leclerc's front wing but he could continue without slowing down.

Fernando Alonso had to retire his Aston Martin in lap six with a brakes problem, while up front Piastri and Norris pulled away.

Hamilton and Verstappen were the first top drivers to pit, with everyone else following soon.

Russell reclaimed second from Norris who emerged just too late from the pit exit but the joy was shortlived as Norris soon swept past the Mercedes man to have both McLarens in front again.

Hamilton pitted for a second time in lap 38 but none of the other in the top positions followed. He lost fifth place to verstappen in the process, and the champion then also got past Leclerc into fourth with four laps left.

Russell almost snatched second place when Norris struggled with his brakes problems but the McLaren driver just held on.

Russell admitted to McLaren's dominance but also spoke of "probably one of my best weekends in Formula One in terms of performance."

Antonelli best rookie, Lawson struggles again

Hamilton's successor at Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli, was the best rookie in eighth while Verstappen's new partner Liam Lawson had another race to forget in 15th and is under big pressure.

Lawson crashed in Australia as a tyre gamble did not pay off, was 14th in the Shanghai sprint, and dead last in both Shanghai qualifyings.

Alpine's Jack Doohan got a 10-second penalty for forcing fellow-rookie Isak Hadjar of Visa RB off the track, and the other VISA RB driver, Yuki Tsunoda, came last after his front wing broke without contact and he required a new one.

The Haas team meanwhile impressed with both drivers in the points as Esteban Ocon placed seventh and Oliver Bearman 10th.

The next race is the Japanese Grand Prix on April 6.

Photo: Screenshot