Piastri wins F1 Chinese GP, with Norris second on dominant day for McLaren

Oscar Piastri won the Chinese Grand Prix with a dominant run from pole position for McLaren, once again demonstrating the team have a fearsomely quick car in the second race of the new season, Report informs via The Guardian.

He secured a comfortable one-two, with his teammate Lando Norris in second.

George Russell was third for Mercedes but 11 seconds down the road from the McLarens, with Max Verstappen fourth for Red Bull and Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in fifth and sixth for Ferrari.

Piastri controlled what was very much a processional race, with a flawless drive from pole, with Norris moving up to second from the start and McLaren then in a commanding position from which they were not threatened.

Tyre-wear management dominated a somewhat prosaic affair but Norris did well to survive a late-race brake problem to claim second, while Ferrari switched Hamilton and Leclerc mid-race but they could make no impression on the leaders.

Norris has maintained his lead in the world championship with 44 points from Verstappen on 36, Russell on 35 and Piastri now on 34.

It was Piastri’s first win in China and the third of his career after taking two last season in what has been an enormously impressive start in F1 over just two years. His team too will enjoy the winning feeling in Shanghaiwith their 50th one-two and after a long absence from the top step in China. The last time they took the flag here was in 2011 with Hamilton.

The confidence in the balance, handling and grip of the car McLaren had enjoyed in Australia was once more in abundance when it really mattered. They have a genuine march on their rivals, the first time they have started a season on the front foot for some time and is the very opening the team, Piastri and Norris have stressed was required if they are to make a tilt at the title.