System 1 lastly headed again to China after the COVID-19 pandemic, the place residence hero Zhou Guanyu was cheered on passionately – shifting the Sauber driver and 2004 Fernando Alonso fan significantly.
Zhou was granted a post-race celebration on the grid behind the podium-sharing Crimson Bull drivers – Lando Norris absent from the preliminary congratulatory photographs between the dominant Max Verstappen and the shakier Sergio Perez having been unaware he was supposed to go there on the in-lap.
Such scenes for Zhou are uncommon and suggests F1 remains to be working exhausting to crack the Chinese language market at what’s successfully a second try in 20 years.
Verstappen successful commandingly is, after all, not uncommon. However in considered one of his two Shanghai victories there was one rare improvement. That, plus loads extra, options in our evaluation of the principle takeaways from the season’s fifth spherical – together with its first dash occasion.
1. Verstappen so quick he might even check issues in-race
Verstappen had the whole lot underneath management in China
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Verstappen’s run to a fourth GP win from 5 rounds was once more totally simple for the world champion. Solely the digital and precise security automotive activations erased what certainly would’ve been a devastating most important race victory margin.
When requested if he had had any fascinating moments in that run, the place he aced the beginning and each restarts forward of Norris, he replied: “I locked up within the second restart into Flip 6, I feel, just a little bit, in order that was not excellent.
“Then I threw a tear-off away, which I feel I might hear on the consumption. It was flapping round hitting my helmet. I do not know the place it ended up. And with two laps in the past, I feel I drove over just a little little bit of particles earlier than Flip 14. In order that was just a little bit scary, as a result of with all of the tyres it is easy to have a puncture at excessive velocity if you drive over carbon. That was it, I feel.”
The top to his dash race, the place Verstappen had an 8s hole with 4 laps remaining that was 13s by the tip, featured the world champion testing a brand new Crimson Bull brake stability setting. He declared a present of supreme power in depth from F1’s present greatest squad “good in all places besides Flip 14 – too ahead”.
2. Thriller exhausting tyre tempo loss undid Ferrari’s GP potential…
Ferrari struggled greater than anybody anticipated throughout the weekend
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Up to now in 2024, Ferrari had been Crimson Bull’s closest rival and far was anticipated of the workforce right here after its Australia win. However in the principle China contest, it was McLaren that ran Crimson Bull closest – a relative time period – and Norris headed Perez.
He was aided by the VSC/first security automotive within the sense that it meant each he and the chasing Leclerc received a free pitstop on their daring one-stop try. Pirelli reckons anybody making an attempt this may have struggled late with no neutralisation. However working third after the 2 restarts, Leclerc would’ve anticipated to assault Norris given he was exhibiting higher degradation on the mediums of their lengthy opening stint.
However Ferrari ended up being “a bit much less performant on the exhausting”, per workforce boss Fred Vasseur. This meant Leclerc struggled to get the white-walled rubber into the temperature window post-restart two and he dropped again from Norris earlier than Perez lastly got here again by with as the ultimate third kicked off.
“It is a matter of a tenth or half a tenth [against McLaren each race],” Vasseur added. “In Melbourne for instance we completed the race after 60 laps eight seconds in entrance, we’re one tenth sooner. After which right this moment we’re one tenth slower. It is extra a matter of extracting the most effective of what we have now.”
3. …however the savage intra-team battle didn’t assist
In-fighting did not assist Ferrari’s Shanghai efforts
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Ferrari was additionally left mystified by its lack of qualifying tempo within the tight battle behind Crimson Bull, with its most important race qualifying outcomes – sixth and seventh – attributed to gearing the SF-24’s set-up in direction of higher in race tyre degradation.
However what good Ferrari might present on this on the mediums was additionally compromised by its drivers squabbling at first and dropping behind George Russell. Nico Hulkenberg additionally briefly nipped forward on the primary lap earlier than the purple pair hit again quick.
Leclerc then took eight laps to go Russell (thrillingly across the exterior at Flip 1) and by that point the early podium scrap had gone clear forward at the same time as he homed in on Oscar Piastri and Fernando Alonso. Sainz by no means handed Russell and he was saved on the two-stop technique earlier than finishing the race’s longest stint on the exhausting across the neutralisations shaking up proceedings.
The Ferrari pair additionally moved into controversial floor with their dash race conflict exiting the hairpin as soon as Sainz had been within the wars with Alonso.
“Once you begin from P9 the race is rather more troublesome as a result of you have got soiled air on the primary laps, even in case you are sooner,” Vasseur said.
“However mainly even in case you are sooner you battle to overhaul as a result of if you do not have the massive hole, you injury the tyre for the primary 10 laps after which you’re useless. I feel it is actually a matter of placing the whole lot collectively. We did not have a clear weekend on our aspect, however we made collectively too many errors.”
4. Unusual monitor floor appeared to help McLaren
Norris guess that he would end behind the 2 Ferraris
Photograph by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Pictures
McLaren had headed to Shanghai fearing the monitor’s numerous lengthy corners and gradual velocity turns would expose the MCL60’s ongoing weaknesses. However Norris had a concept that the bitumen floor therapy that appeared “painted” to the drivers on arrival really helped the orange workforce general, as he shone in dash qualifying and headed the Ferraris behind Alonso’s most important race qualifying heroics too.
“This monitor may be very totally different [compared to 2019],” mentioned the Briton. “The [asphalt] is sort of odd. Possibly that performed into our fingers a bit greater than we had been considering, perhaps with the previous [asphalt], we might have struggled a bit extra. So simply little issues. We’re not making it up [predicting struggles]. We’re giving our sincere opinion on the place we wish to be.”
McLaren workforce boss Andrea Stella additionally highlighted how “China does not appear to be as troublesome for the entrance tyres because it was prior to now”.
He added: “On the identical time, I feel the circumstances helped retain grip on the rear [as the overcast GP had a track temperature peak 4°C cooler versus Saturday’s sprint]. As a result of the rear axle particularly right this moment was not overheating. Whereas if we take a look at the dash I feel we had a little bit of overheating. Ferrari gave the impression to be extra snug, Max had an enormous benefit [on rear deg]”.
5. Weird trackside grass fires thriller by no means absolutely solved
Friday noticed two grass fires erupt trackside – with out the trigger recognized for sure
Photograph by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Pictures
Fireplace is considered one of motorsport’s largest risks, however it was nonetheless uncommon to see this concern impacting an space the automobiles and drivers by no means reached. This was the massive patch of grass that received set ablaze by ground sparks on the within of Flip 7 in observe and dash qualifying.
These adopted pre-event moist climate and a bathe pre-Friday qualifying, which meant the grass wasn’t tinder-box dry. The FIA inspected the world on Friday evening however couldn’t discover any flammable materials or chemical compounds on the grass, nor any signal the idea of seeping methane gasoline from pipes and the monitor’s swampland setting was contributing the fires.
“Though we’re nonetheless unsure why grass fires occurred in yesterday’s periods, we’re taking pre-emptive measures forward of right this moment’s monitor actions,” an FIA assertion learn on Saturday, which fortunately didn’t have a fireplace get away on the spot and nor did it on Sunday.
6. Hulkenberg delivered for Haas, whereas RB confronted catastrophe
Hulkenberg scored factors for the third time in 5 grands prix
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
But once more in 2024, Lance Stroll’s poor exhibiting in opposition to Alonso for Aston Martin meant the ultimate level was on provide for one of many backside 5 squads. And for the third time this yr (having additionally taken ninth in Australia) this went Haas’s approach by way of Nico Hulkenberg.
He received caught into the squabbling Ferrari drivers on the GP’s first lap, earlier than they roared again by and he was then shoved broad by Stroll in a bizarrely unpunished Flip 6 hairpin transfer. However what was extra spectacular was that a lot in a while, Hulkenberg prevented his dash order dive with 2023-esque Haas tyre deg not obvious on team-mate Kevin Magnussen’s automotive.
Having adjusted his set-up to keep away from this for the principle race, Hulkenberg delivered on a day the place the opposite ‘Class B’ 2024 factors scorer thus far – RB – had the catastrophe of getting each its automobiles worn out by errors from others. Ricciardo was finished by Stroll’s restart one misjudgement, whereas Magnussen rashly tried to repass Tsunoda shortly afterwards and oversteered into the RB exiting Flip 6.
Hulkenberg’s level cuts the hole between the 2 groups to 2 factors – on seven and 5 respectively – with Williams, Alpine and Sauber nonetheless scoreless.
7. F1 factors system set for 2025 shake-up
The F1 factors system might see factors awarded right down to twelfth
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures
This time subsequent yr, had been all the outcomes to be similar, one way or the other, solely Sauber would have zero factors after 5 rounds. It’s because, as Motorsport.com revealed on Saturday, the groups, F1 and the FIA are contemplating extending factors to run right down to twelfth place for GP occasions.
The highest seven locations would nonetheless reward the identical quantity, which avoids the larger groups gaining and in addition having to pay greater entry charges based mostly on complete factors accrued. The early suggestion from the Shanghai paddock is that the barrier of 5 groups supporting the transfer (plus officers’ approval) needs to be cleared.
An F1 Fee assembly this week can even focus on a separate proposal to evaluate doable leap begins on video proof, not solely based mostly on if automotive transponders detect grid field motion. That is understood to have much less assist amongst the groups but when sufficient agree the change might come as quickly the subsequent race in Miami.
8. Ricciardo’s new RB chassis contributed to “greatest” weekend pre-Stroll crash
Ricciardo had a return to kind earlier than Stroll put him out of the race
Photograph by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Pictures
Tsunoda has scored all RBs seven factors thus far this yr and whereas Ricciardo’s GP technique meant he was all the time set to slide out of the decrease high 10 battle within the race’s second half (he was but to make use of one other compound amongst a gaggle of rivals set to go to the tip), he was general having fun with his “greatest” weekend of the season. Stroll’s error wrecked all that, nevertheless.
Ricciardo had come into the occasion feeling the chassis change RB had enacted after Suzuka would grant him “peace of thoughts”. With it, he then headed Tsunoda in each Chinese language qualifying periods and far happier along with his feeling with within the VCARB 01, albeit it with one vital caveat.
“Up to now, it’s been a extra optimistic weekend for us and my greatest one of many yr,” he mentioned after Saturday qualifying. “We modified the chassis this weekend and I really feel the automotive higher and have extra confidence in it, in order that’s encouraging, however it’s only one monitor. I’ve all the time loved Shanghai and I even have a fairly good previous right here, so I feel we have to proceed proving our efficiency in the middle of the subsequent few races.”
9. Crew success potential isn’t the one consider Sainz’s 2025 contract choice
Sainz is a person in demand
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Pictures
Studying between the traces of F1’s fixed truth-massaging video games is each very important for seeing the complete image and fraught with peril. Because the China weekend received underneath approach, there was loads extra chat in regards to the 2025 driver market and right here Sainz’s state of affairs and feedback once more stood out.
He mentioned: “I’m all the time going to attempt to search for the quickest choice obtainable…there are, for positive, different very fascinating medium-term, not even long-term, choices on the market that I’ll think about and I’m contemplating.”
His “all of it is dependent upon the compromises or the affords and what everybody affords” line then stood out extra when an interview given by Crimson Bull’s Helmut Marko to Austrian newspaper Kleine Zeitung was revealed to comprise the next.
“We’re speaking to him,” mentioned Marko. “He is having his strongest season in F1, however he has a really profitable provide from Audi that we won’t match or beat.”
Marko is adept at taking part in his personal video games by way of the media on the subject of driver market choices however given Audi’s long-term curiosity in Sainz it nonetheless underlines the daring alternative the Spaniard could quickly be making.
In any case, each he and Audi need that alternative – no matter it’s – made early, whereas Crimson Bull and Mercedes are the one groups with slots he’d really be concerned with proper now.
10. A few of F1’s guidelines nonetheless aren’t clear sufficient, but extra penalty inconsistency elsewhere
Norris was on the centre of confusion in dash qualifying
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Pictures
There was a protracted listing of baffling officiating choices final weekend: seven in complete.
Deleting and reinstating Norris’s dash qualifying pole time. Reprimanding Hulkenberg for passing two automobiles within the pitlane early in GP qualifying (a cameraman did have to leap clear) after clearing Alonso for squeezing previous Zhou within the pit exit channel only a bit additional alongside the day before today as SQ3 started.
Then there was making use of Alonso’s dash penalty when he’d already retired, however not doing so for Ricciardo’s GP sanction with the Australian out farther from second occasion’s finish. Plus, dismissing Aston’s protest of Sainz’s post-Q2 crash rejoining. Giving Alonso three penalty factors for clipping Sainz within the dash when Stroll and Magnussen ended the GP for the RB drivers and respectively received two every. There was additionally not penalising Stroll for shoving Hulkenberg off early within the GP. And, lastly, penalising Sargeant closely for a detailed security automotive line overtake on Hulkenberg in the principle occasion.
The final incident might certainly have been solved by swift intervention by the FIA’s distant ops centre in Geneva, however Sargeant’s “I do not know why they did not simply inform me to present the place again, clearly, I might’ve finished so” doubt suggests Williams was unaware there could possibly be a case to reply.
The penultimate state of affairs was lined by the stewards explaining “automotive 18 clearly had its entrance axle a minimum of alongside the mirror of the opposite automotive by the apex of the nook” and “it additionally seems to us that automotive 27 could have left the monitor briefly as a result of the automotive bottomed out over the kerb”. Plus, the penalty factors queries are lined by what the stewards can apply for numerous incidents within the guidelines.
However these are too obscure on the Alonso dash penalty vs Ricciardo Miami GP grid drop, per the stewards themselves. They advisable that the FIA considers making the required amendments to convey larger readability to this challenge given “we be aware that the language within the laws as to when a automotive has retired [Alonso was classified two laps down in the sprint while Ricciardo wasn’t in the GP] and the resultant penalties on penalties which may be imposed or served, particularly when that automotive is in any other case categorized, is considerably unclear and we might suggest “.
The Aston protest on Sainz was additionally shockingly dismissed largely as a result of the phrases “exterior help” weren’t added to Article 39.6 of F1’s guidelines on when drivers could make their very own approach again to the pits after crashes regardless of the groups apparently agreeing to do precisely this throughout the 2023 Belgian GP.
At the very least frequent sense prevailed within the Norris moist pole time case…
Subsequent up, Miami!
Photograph by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool