McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris celebrate following their 1-2 finish at the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday.
Image: AFP
McLaren continued to set themselves apart from the rest of the Formula One grid as they left the Chinese Grand Prix this past weekend with a significant haul of points.
The Surrey-based team currently leads the defence of their constructors’ championship, holding a 21-point advantage over second-placed Mercedes (57) after securing back-to-back wins in the opening two race weekends.
The drivers’ championship promises to be a thrilling contest, with the race to the finish line shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent years. Here, Obakeng Meletse examines the three key talking points from the Chinese Grand Prix.
Lando Norris was on a charge towards the end of last season, ultimately falling short of Max Verstappen’s championship-winning points tally by 73. Carrying on from where he left off, the McLaren driver currently leads the defending champion by eight points after two races.
Despite being outside the top three, Oscar Piastri has also been one of the most impressive drivers since the start of the season. Had it not been for an error in his home GP on the opening weekend, the Australian could potentially be a close second to Norris in the standings.
Norris was the outright favourite to win the championship at the start of the season, following positive feedback from pre-season testing. However, looking too far ahead could be his downfall, as the biggest threat to his title hopes may come from his own teammate rather than the rest of the grid.
Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
Image: AFP
For many seasons, Verstappen has had to carry the Red Bull team almost single-handedly. With their car no longer the outright fastest on the grid this season, new driver Liam Lawson could face a tough time adapting as a Red Bull driver.
Lawson replaced Sergio Perez, who, despite being a clear second to Verstappen, did a respectable job as the Dutchman's wingman. His second-place finish in the 2023 season with 285 points was impressive, even though it amounted to less than 50% of Verstappen’s total for the year.
Aside from Daniel Ricciardo, no other driver seems to have fully adapted to a car that team principal Christian Horner has described as being designed specifically for Verstappen.
In a season where points are harder to come by, Red Bull may struggle to contend for the constructors. Even if their lead driver loses crucial points, Lawson will still require time to settle in. By the time that happens, it could be too late for Red Bull to mount a serious challenge.
Lewis Hamilton and his Ferrari team showed up in style for the sprint race, but after his first victory since switching from Mercedes, both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc failed to make much of an impression in qualifying and the main race.
Both drivers were disqualified after the race for breaching technical regulations. Leclerc lost valuable points after finishing fifth, while Hamilton’s hard-fought sixth place was also rendered meaningless.
Like Mercedes, Ferrari continues to be inconsistent – showing flashes of competitiveness one moment and struggling the next, with no clear explanation. The signs are ominous that this could be yet another season where the two teams find themselves locked in a battle with each other, while McLaren pulls ahead as the dominant force.