Norris secures second in Shanghai as both Mercedes Brits score points but fury for Ricciardo

Formula One returned to China for the first time in five years with Shanghai playing host to a drama-filled fifth round of the season. With - yep, you guessed it - Verstappen back on top, there was drama in the ranks as RB's Daniel Ricciardo's first promising race was ruined by Aston Martin's Lance Stroll. For the Brits, McLaren star Lando Norris battled his way to a second-place finish, while fellow countrymen Russel and Hamilton secured points in sixth and ninth respectively. Here's all the highlights and what we learned from the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
 

Verstappen's lead increases

For Red Bull and Formula One frontman Max Verstappen, the Dutchman's lead is unrelenting. In China, the 26-year-old won the race from Pole with a gap of 13 seconds between his closest rival in the race, Lando Norris. Had it not been for both a virtual and real safety car activation, Verstappen's lead could have been even more devastating. Speaking after the race, Verstappen could only note a lock-up in the second restart into Turn 6 and driving over some debris as two things that weren't "ideal" about his first victory in Shanghai and his fourth victory in five rounds this season.

With 110 points already to his name, Verstappen sits 25 points ahead of his closest rival and teammate Sergio Perez as the championship rolls into race six. So far, the Dutchman has had an easy time defending his title, apart from when Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz managed to break Verstappen’s streak when his car failed in Australia. 

Norris defies expectations to secure second place 

Despite starting the race in fourth, McLaren's Lando Norris defied expectation as he battled his way to a second-place finish behind Verstappen. "Nothing really pointed to us having an amazing race, but things just went to plan from lap one onwards," he commented after the race.

As one of the youngest drivers on the grid battled with the oldest - Fernando Alonso - on lap seven, the British driver broke into the top three, where he then managed to pass Red Bulls's Sergio Perez while the Mexican was in the pits. Holding on to that position until the end of the race, Norris brought home a well-deserved – albeit unexpected – podium in Shanghai.

"This track is very different [compared to 2019]," said Norris after the race. "Maybe that played into our hands a bit more than we were thinking," he reasoned. McLaren's one-lap pace has proved to be impressive this season but when it comes to putting it all together on race day, it's been a challenge. "We came here thinking it was going to be damage limitation, but actually it's been our most competitive event," admitted Andreas Seidl after the race. Was China a one-off for the British outfit or will we see McLaren thrive on the streets of Miami?

Fury for Ricciardo after incident with Stroll

In one of the most contentious moves of the season, Aston Martin's Lance Stroll rear-ended RB's Daniel Ricciardo while under the safety car, running what was looking to be the Australian’s best race yet.

"This idiot just slammed on the brake," said Stroll over the radio, mid-race - a comment that angered Ricciardo, who believed the Canadian was entirely to blame for the incident. Admitting this made his "blood boil," Ricciardo didn't mince his words in the media pen after the race. "I'm doing my best not to say what I want to say. But f*** that guy – and I'm being nice still," he said.

Given his streak of bad luck this season, it's easy to see where Ricciardo's frustration comes from. In Shanghai, the Australian started the race in 12th and had worked his way up to just inside the points in ninth when the Aston Martin driver collided with him. With Ricciardo's teammate, Yuki Tsunoda scoring all RBs seven points so far this year, Ricciardo will be looking for retribution in Miami, as Stroll serves a three-place grid penalty for the smash.

Points for Russell and Hamilton but Mercedes still lacking

Despite points for both Mercedes' Russell and Hamilton, who finished sixth and ninth respectively, the struggles continue at the German powerhouse. Once the dominant force in Formula One, Mercedes continues to lag behind the leading pack this season.

In the Sprint Race, Hamilton showed the Mercedes car can be competitive, finishing second. Despite this, the seven-time World Champion started 18th for the main race after an error in qualifying, and then struggled in the main race before rising into the points with a late flourish.

Hinting at some "sizeable set-up changes" he'd requested after the Sprint, Hamilton then went on to hold his hands up after the main race, admitting, "we won't make that set-up change again, Bono. That was my bad!"
For team boss Toto Wolf, he confessed after the race that "we made too many extreme changes after the sprint and that made the most important part of the weekend much more challenging."

Still, George Russell cracked on and made the most of the race in China, finishing a respectable sixth overall, despite starting the race eighth. Russell now leads Hamilton by 14 points in the standings.

"With P6, we've maximised the potential of the car and that's not good enough and we all know that," Wolff admitted. Rolling on into North America, the search continues in Miami for the remedy to Mercedes' woes.

With only six races remaining until F1 returns to Silverstone, the season is really starting to hot up. Make sure you don't miss the action at the British Grand Prix 04-07 July! Secure your tickets here. 

Image Credit: McLaren