PIASTRI CRUISES TO VICTORY IN CHINA

Round Two in 2025 saw Formula One arrive in Shanghai, China and it was going to be difficult to live up to the excitement of last week in Albert Park but it was a controlled performance by title favourites McLaren as Piastri never looked phased after taking pole and then leading all but a few laps, with Championship leading teammate Lando Norris completing a 1-2 for the team from Woking despite his brake issues in the later stages of the race. George Russell who has been quick all weekend took third for a well deserved podium.

It wasn't the start Oscar Piastri would have hoped for as gets an ok start but its George Russell who had the better start but the McLaren keeps the lead into turn one as Lando Norris then passes Russell for second to make it a McLaren 1-2. The two Ferrari's of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc complete the top five.

Another race and another DNF for the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso who after four laps of racing is forced to slow down as his rear brakes are on fire.

After fourteen laps race leader Piastri pits along with Russell. This means that Norris takes over the lead ahead now of Leclerc in second and Alex Albon in third.

Piastri joins back into the race in fourth, Russell down in eighth.

Two laps later on lap sixteen Norris and Leclerc pit from first and second.

It was a tighter exit from the pits that Norris would have hoped as the sole remaining Aston Martin of Lance Stroll gets in the way as Norris exits the pits wheel to wheel with Russell and its the Mercedes who gets ahead.

Albon now leads the race on his birthday of all days. Piastri would ultimately pass Albon two laps later to re-take the lead. The Williams was so high up due to pitting much later than everyone else.

On lap eighteen Norris passes Russell into turn one and takes back what is a net second place as Albon is yet to pit.

With just five laps left on lap fifty one Norris has to concede a possible race win with a brake issue - his brake pedal getting longer by a slight fraction every lap meaning by the end he was having to lift so early into the corners that Russell behind was very close by the chequered flag, thankfully the gap for Norris was large enough where he was able to hold onto second.

The next race is the Japanese Grand Prix.

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