Sunday Debrief: Verstappen wins ahead of Norris as Hamilton climbs into the points

F1 returned to China for the first time in 5 years, and its a Verstappen victory, a Norris podium and a double Red Bull podium as Perez rounds off the top 3.

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Sprint:

Verstappen took the win in the sprint after a poor performance in the troubling wet conditions in SQ3, which saw him qualify in P4.

 

Norris lined up on pole for the race after having a lap time deleted for track limits before being reinstated seconds before the end of qualifying. Hamilton was the unfortunate driver to be affected by the decision, Hamilton showing the skills of a 7-time world champion as he kept control of his Mercedes in the wet conditions to line up on pole, Norris’s reinstated lap meant Hamilton was bonked down into P2.

 

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It wasn’t long until Hamilton took back the lead of the race, Norris with a disastrous start opened the door for Hamilton to get wheel to wheel with his fellow brit, Norris under pressure going wide as the pair approached turn 2, Norris dropping down 6 places as Hamilton inherited the lead.

 

Verstappen benefiting from Norris’s mistake as he moved up into P3, chasing for the win. While complaining about a flat battery on lap 3, Verstappen moved up into P2, after being stuck behind Alonso, the gap between himself being 1.8seconds. Verstappen didn’t have to wait long to take the lead, a lock up from Hamilton at turn 1 allowed Verstappen to breeze his way into the lead.

 

Behind the front two, it was a 4-way battle for P3, led by Alonso, followed by Sainz, Perez and Leclerc. Sainz getting his elbows out to take the lead of the battle on lap 16, Alonso not happy fighting back for the place 2 corners later, the pair making contact allowing Perez to skip the que and take up the final podium place. Alonso returned to the pits with a puncture and was told to retire out of the race, the incident being investigated after the race, Alonso picking up a 10second penalty that was dismissible with Alonso already finishing at the bottom of the grid.

 

Race:

Its victory number 4 this season, for Max Verstappen in China.

Verstappen lined up on pole to make it 100 pole starts for Red Bull, Perez qualifying in P2 to make it a front row lockout. Big news for qualifying was an early exit for Hamilton after he failed to make an impression to get out of Q1, only managing to get into P18. Alpine bought some upgrades this weekend to Ocon’s car, a new floor being brought to Japan with a lighter chassis, which would see him out qualify his teammate once again this season.

 

Sargeant started the race from the pit lane after his Williams was taken out of Parc Fermé after qualifying to change his set up for the race. The mechanics at Aston Martin worked up until the green lights on Alonso’s car after some damage was found on the floor of Alonso’s car.

 

With 5 lights out, Verstappen made a getaway as Alonso went round the outside of the Bulls to get ahead of Perez and move up into P2, a stellar start from the veteran. Alonso held onto the position for 5 laps, before giving the place back to Perez, Alonso having to push harder than he would like on his tyres. Norris aware of this was able to get close behind the Aston and move up into P3 on lap 8.

 

Hamilton picking up only 3 places on the soft tyres, making up barely any ground came into the pits on lap 10 for a set on medium tyres. Hamilton reflecting on those soft tyres on the team radio claiming “those were the worst tyres ever”. Hamilton making his way back to where he left of on lap 13, making the move on Tsunoda.

 

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Bottas brought out the yellow flags in sector 2 and 3 with an engine failure on lap 19. Bottas climbing out of his car with the single and double yellow flags being waved. The VCS being brough ton lap 22, Norris not happy as he misses the entry for the pits, while Leclerc took the chance to come in for a set of fresh tyres. Hamilton also coming into the pits, having complained on the radio for the past few laps that his tyres are dead, Hamilton re-joining in P18 on Hard tyres.

 

Norris pitting a lap later, the VSC still in effect, with marshals struggling to clear the Sauber with it stuck in gear. The full safety car was brought out on lap 24, bringing in Verstappen, Perez, Alonso into the pits, Alonso making a bold choice to pit for softs. The safety car coming in at the end of lap 26 for a rolling start. Ahead of the restart, the chaos already starting, Alonso locking up and slowing the rest of the pack, Ricciardo having to break a bit harder bringing stroll into the back of the RB, Stroll going straight to the pits, while Ricciardo reported floor damage.

 Chaotic start for the other RB with Tsunoda, as he gets involved in an incident and spins out of the race bringing out a yellow flag in sector 2, as Tsunoda goes into the runoff area and out of the race, Magnussen going into the pits with a puncture. The safety far being back sooner than wanted on lap 28 and coming in at the end of lap 31 for the second rolling start of the race.

 

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Ricciardo dropping places at the restart, losing a place to Hamilton as he moves up into the points. Ricciardo coming in at the end of lap 33 becoming a third retirement of the race.

 

The FIA starting to dish out the penalties with 4 10-second penalties being handed out. The first for Sargeant for a safety car infringement, followed by Gasly, Stroll and Magnussen for causing a collision.

 

Alonso pitting on lap 44 for mediums, helping Hamilton into P8, the pair coming back together on lap 49, Alonso on fresher tyres making the move on Hamilton, Hamilton not fighting it as Alonso picks off Hamilton before picking off Piastri on lap 49, where he would complete the race behind Russell in P7. Hamilton not being able to pass Piastri, settling for P9, a result he wouldn’t have through possible after his poor luck at the start of the race.

 

Verstappen made it two race victories for the weekend, Perez once again on the podium in P3 to make it both Red Bull drivers on every podium this season so far. Norris slotted between the pair, Norris also picking up driver of the day.

 

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The crowds were cheering for Zhou throughout the race at every overtake. The home driver doing his country proud, with an emotional ending as he gets out his car to the cheers and roars of his home fans. Zhou the first Chinese driver to ever compete at the Chinese Grand Prix, the support of country shown through the record track.