Oscar Piastri led Lando Norris to a dominant McLaren one-two in the Chinese Grand Prix ahead of George Russell’s Mercedes.
Piastri’s calm, controlled victory made it two wins from two for McLaren at the start of the season following Norris’ outstanding drive in the wet in Melbourne last weekend.
The Australian led from pole and lost first place only briefly in the period around the leaders’ only pit stops. Piastri was rarely more than four seconds ahead of Norris but always in control.
Norris was struggling with fading brakes in the closing laps but had enough of an advantage to hold Russell at bay.
Charles Leclerc drove an outstanding race in a Ferrari with a damaged front wing, his pace forcing Ferrari to order team-mate Lewis Hamilton out of his way.
But Leclerc lost fourth place to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with four laps to go as the world champion’s car found some pace in the second half of the race.
Hamilton, who took an outstanding victory in the shorter sprint race on Saturday, resisted the call for a couple of laps before letting Leclerc by and then dropped back.
The best of the rest was Esteban Ocon’s Haas, in a much-improved showing after a poor opening race for the US-based team. He led home the second Mercedes of Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Williams’ Alex Albon and the second Haas of Briton Oliver Bearman.
Drama unfolded after the race as Leclerc, Hamilton and Alpine’s Gasly were disqualified from Formula 1’s Chinese Grand Prix due to failing post-race inspection.
The amended result means Esteban Ocon moves up to a sensational fifth for Haas, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Alex Albon and Oliver Bearman are all promoted as well. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Williams man Carlos Sainz have now moved up into the final points-paying positions.
