Mercedes secured one other one-two end on the Chinese language Grand Prix as 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli received his first System 1 race from pole place forward of George Russell.
Lewis Hamilton took his maiden podium for Ferrari, whereas constructors’ champions McLaren did not even begin Sunday’s race due to separate electrical points for each drivers.
Listed below are my driver rankings for the second weekend in China:
Kimi Antonelli – 9 – An actual second for the younger Italian this weekend. Youngest ever polesitter and first grand prix victory beneath his belt.
George Russell – 8.5 – One other sturdy weekend. Recovered effectively from qualifying troubles however obtained slowed down preventing the Ferraris within the race.
Lewis Hamilton – 9 – Lewis has his mojo again. Loves the observe in Shanghai. Nice battle with Russell and team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Charles Leclerc – 8 – Sensible fights with Hamilton and nice wheel-to-wheel race craft. Simply does not just like the observe very a lot and a mistake at Flip 14 allowed his team-mate by way of for the rostrum.
Oliver Bearman – 9 – I am handing out the nines as we speak however everybody wants to look at what Bearman is doing in a Haas proper now. The Briton is fifth within the drivers’ championship.
Pierre Gasly – 8 – One other spectacular run from the Frenchman, scoring back-to-back grand prix factors.
Liam Lawson – 7 – In comparison with this time a yr in the past, it is like we’ve got a distinct driver. Away from team-mate Arvid Lindblad to ship factors in each the dash and race.
Isack Hadjar – 6 – Onerous to realize a lot with the automotive and energy unit combo. However was proper there with Max Verstappen which will probably be encouraging. Marked down his rating for spinning within the race.
Carlos Sainz – 7 – How Sainz managed to steal two factors is past me and a testomony to his talent (and reliability of others). However obtained probably the most out of qualifying too.
Franco Colapinto – 6.5 – Seemed out of his depth within the dash however solely simply missed out on Q3 and a really strong drive on Sunday to get his first factors since 2024.
Nico Hulkenberg – 5 – Little bit of an nameless weekend for the German driver. Noticed the chequered flag a minimum of.
Arvid Lindblad – 5 – After the highs of Melbourne, it was very a lot a studying weekend for the British rookie.
Valtteri Bottas – 5 – Had the higher of Cadillac team-mate Sergio Perez this weekend and completed the race in China.
Esteban Ocon – 4 – Forged into team-mate Bearman’s shadow for the second consecutive weekend and made a foolish transfer on Colapinto within the race.
Sergio Perez – 4.5 – Plagued with automotive points however could not fairly match Bottas this weekend.
Max Verstappen – 6.5 – Can solely achieve this a lot with the automotive he has. Forward of his team-mate Hadjar in qualifying, as you’d count on, however solely simply. Might be apprehensive about two dangerous begins in a row.
Fernando Alonso – 6.5 – One other making an attempt weekend for him and his Aston Martin automotive. Sensible begin within the grand prix to get inside the highest 10. Engine restricted and ultimately retired.
Lance Stroll – 3 – Barely current on the observe. Solely seen when he conked out through the race. Out-qualified by the Cadillac of Bottas.
Oscar Piastri – 5 – Two races in a row the Australian has failed to begin. Not his fault in China and out-qualified team-mate Lando Norris. Couldn’t match his team-mate within the dash, although.
Lando Norris – 5 – A non-starter within the race and the Briton was behind Piastri in Saturday’s qualifying, however did end larger within the dash.
Gabriel Bortoleto – 3 – Crashed out in Q2 and was unable to begin Sunday’s race.
Alex Albon – 4 – Combating a poor automotive and didn’t make lights out – from the dash and qualifying, he’s very a lot lagging behind team-mate Sainz.
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