McLaren’s early dominance in 2025 rolled on in Shanghai, this time with Oscar Piastri standing tallest. After heartbreak in Melbourne — where a late spin cost him a sure second place — the Australian responded with a flawless weekend. He took pole with a new track record, controlled the race from the front, and never looked under threat. From lights-out to the checkered flag, Piastri was composed, methodical, and untouchable.

Behind him, Lando Norris made it the 50th one-two finish in team history for McLaren though it didn’t come without a scare. Norris was told to manage a deteriorating brake pedal in the closing laps, forcing him to back off just as George Russell began closing in. Norris barely held firm under pressure, but it was enough to protect second place and extend his lead in the drivers’ standings to eight points over Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

George Russell completed the podium for Mercedes and has quietly inserted himself into the early title conversation. He lost second to Norris at the start, briefly regained the place during the pit stop cycle, but couldn’t hold off the McLaren in the DRS zone. Still, it’s been a strong start for Russell — third in the championship and showing consistency.

Behind the podium, Verstappen salvaged what he could in a difficult weekend for Red Bull. He was passed by both Ferraris at the start, then spent most of the race climbing back through the field. He got by Charles Leclerc cleanly late in the race, but the larger concern may be that Red Bull simply lacked the pace to challenge McLaren in Shanghai. Two races in, Verstappen doesn’t look vulnerable — but he also doesn’t look untouchable.

And then there’s the Ferraris.

What initially appeared to be a modest rebound — a quiet fifth and sixth, some decent wheel-to-wheel racing, and a few hints of pace — completely collapsed after the race when Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who won Saturday’s Sprint Race, were disqualified for separate technical infractions. Leclerc was disqualified for finishing the race with an underweight car. Hamilton, whose pace faded sharply in the second stint, was found to have excessive plank wear underneath his Ferrari. Simply put, one car was too light, the other too low.

The fallout leaves Ferrari 61 points behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship standings after just two races. In the Drivers’ Championship, Hamilton and Leclerc trail Norris by 35 and 36 points, respectively. The math already looks daunting, and the calendar has barely started.

Outside the top four, there were standout performances in the midfield. Esteban Ocon delivered a strong result for Haas in fifth, as the American team bounced back convincingly from a challenging outing in Australia. Rookie Ollie Bearman also impressed, climbing through the field to finish eighth and securing Haas a valuable double-point finish — a much-needed turnaround after a poor season opener.

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli continued his promising rookie campaign with sixth and a driver of the day award. Thanks to a long opening stint, William’s Alexander Albon briefly led the race on his birthday before finishing seventh. It was another poor day for the Racing Bulls, who squandered promising grid positions with ineffective two-stop strategies and a third pit stop for Yuki Tsunoda after front wing damage.

Elsewhere, Liam Lawson’s future with Red Bull grows murkier by the week. After a dismal showing in Australia, the New Zealander started from the pit lane in Shanghai due to a late setup change and struggled to progress throughout the race. He crossed the line 15th but was later classified 12th following the disqualifications of Leclerc, Hamilton, and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly. Even with this benefit, Lawson has yet to show anything resembling the form that earned him the seat to begin with.

The calendar now turns to Suzuka on April 6 — one of Formula 1’s most iconic and demanding circuits. With its high-speed flow, technical complexity, and passionate fanbase, Japan will present another distinct challenge for teams still trying to find rhythm in the early stretch of the season. If the opening rounds are any indication, the road to the 2025 titles may be tighter and more unpredictable than anyone expected.