The problem with back-to-back races is the risk of delays if there’s a glitch in the transportation process, as happened after Australia and four teams’ (Aston Martin, McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull) cars and equipment arrived over 30 hours late. The FIA allowed the teams’ personnel to work through the night (when there would normally be a curfew) to prepare the cars in time for the first session. Pirelli’s tyres were also held up by the freight issues. [video]
The main news since Australia is the death of Eddie Jordan, whose team became Spyker, Midland, Force India and finally the Aston Martin team who are sporting a shamrock tribute on their cars.
China is the first sprint format weekend of the 2025 season; the others are Miami, Belgium, Austin, Brazil, and Qatar.
The sprint format means there is just on Free Practice session; Friday afternoon is Sprint Qualifying, then the Sprint is on Saturday morning. That afternoon is Quali for the race, and of course the race is on Sunday afternoon (local time).
Free Practice
- FP1: NOR (1:31.504), LEC, PIA, HAM, RUS
Sprint Qualifying
Sprint Quali is shorter than regular Quali; SQ1=12mins, SQ2=10mins, SQ3=8mins.
There are also mandatory tyre compounds, unlike Quali: SQ1 & SQ2 are mediums, and SQ3 on softs.
Sprint Qualifying session 1 (SQ1)
Air temperature 24°C; track 38°C; humidity 14%
BOR 1:33.693
TSU 1:33.232
VER 1:32.329
HAM 1:32.229
PIA 1:31.723
(ALO P2)
RUS was in TSU’s way as the RB came out of the hairpin
3mins left; bottom 5 are PIA, ALO, HAM, LEC, NOR
A couple of impeding incidents have been noted, including RUS on TSU
NOR 1:31.396
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are STR, TSU, BEA, BOR, OCO
STR P9, LAW P16
TSU P9, HUL P16
BOR P14, GAS P16
BEA P9, DOO P16
HAM 1:31.212
HUL P18
OCO P18
Back of the grid: DOO, GAS, OCO, HUL, LAW
LAW took Perez’s seat because the Mexican was underperforming, so LAW must know P20 doesn’t bode well with the fickle Red Bull management
Sprint Qualifying session 2
Big slide for BOR in Turn 2
VER 1:31.521
LEC fought his Ferrari through the hairpin
NOR 1:31.174
Radio from RUS complaining of lack of grip; it’s evident he’s not the only one struggling
The FIA timing data is broken
3mins left; no time yet from 7 drivers
Chequered flag; still some with no time
Finally the timing data is back; order is NOR, PIA, HAM, VER, LEC, STR, TSU, ALO, BEA, ANT, RUS, SAI, ALB, BOR, HAD
SAI P12
BOR P13
ALB P5, ANT P11
ANT P4, BEA P11
RUS P2, ALO P11
Middle of the grid: ALO, BEA, SAI, BOR, HAD
Replay of LEC being told to let teammate HAM past for their final flying laps
Top 10 shootout is between NOR, RUS, PIA, HAM, ANT, VER, ALB, LEC, STR, TSU
Sprint Qualifying session 3
Ugh, FIA timing data is still broken
PIA 1:30.929
NOR P2 after a big slide
ANT P3
RUS P2
HAM 1:30.849 – that breaks the all-time lap record in Shanghai
LEC P3
PIA P2
NOR aborts his lap
Chequered flag; order HAM, PIA, LEC, RUS, NOR, ANT; no time yet from STR, ALB, VER, TSU
VER P2
ALB P8
TSU P8
Front of the grid: HAM, VER, PIA, LEC, RUS, NOR, ANT, TSU, ALB, STR
Replay shows NOR locked up in the hairpin on his second flying lap
Provisional grid: HAM, VER, PIA, LEC, RUS, NOR, ANT, TSU, ALB, STR, ALO, BEA, SAI, BOR, HAD, DOO, GAS, OCO, HUL, LAW
Sprint
Pit lane is open; drivers can make their way to the grid
Sprint Grid: HAM, VER, PIA, LEC, RUS, NOR, ANT, TSU, ALB, STR, ALO, BEA, SAI, BOR, HAD, DOO, GAS, OCO, HUL*, LAW – *HUL will start from the pit lane
Air temperature 23°C
HAM leads everyone away on the formation lap
Everyone on medium compound tyres
01/19: HAM leads through Turn 1
Oh good – still no official timing data – FIA are useless!
NOR runs a fraction wide, drops to P9
02: HAM, VER, PIA, RUS, LEC, TSU, ANT, STR, NOR, ALO
DRS enabled
03: HAM pulling away, denying VER of DRS
04: LAW takes P18 from DOO although LAW hit DOO’s front wheel
05/19: HAM, VER, PIA, RUS, LEC, TSU, ANT, STR, NOR, ALO
Looks like LAW’s broken his front wing’s upright
07: LAW/DOO incident under investigation… no further action
PIA had DRS behind VER
NOR is still languishing in P9 behind STR
HAD attacking BOR but the Sauber holds on to P15
08: VER closing on HAM
Radio from NOR asking if others are stuggling with their front tyres too; he’s told his looks worse
09: VER has DRS to help attack HAM … but then HAM opens the gap
10/19: HAM, VER, PIA, RUS, LEC, TSU, ANT, STR, NOR, ALO
HAD has passed GAS for P14 … but GAS reclaims the spot
Another piece of bodywork flies off LAW’s car
11: VER wide in the hairpin and PIA closes right up
GAS takes P13 from SAI
12: HAD and LAW pass SAI in the hairpin
Radio for SAI telling him to pit
SAI pits, new mediums go on; rejoins P20
13: Radio for NOR asking if he has any pace; “I’m flat out”
PIA has DRS and fills VER’s mirrors
14: VER defends P2, forcing PIA the long way round Turn 1
15/19: HAM, VER, PIA, RUS, LEC, TSU, ANT, STR, NOR, ALO, ALB, BEA, GAS, HAD, LAW, BOR, OCO, DOO, HUL, SAI
PIA inside VER into the hairpin; takes P2
NOR has DRS behind STR
17: ANT all over TSU’s rear wing
GAS around BEA for P12
18: NOR takes P8 from STR (Reminder: P8 is the last points-paying place in the sprint)
LEC on RUS’s tail
19/19: LEC alongside RUS into the hairpin but the Mercedes keeps P4
HAM takes the chequered flag – Ferrari’s first Sprint win
DOO lunges at BOR into the hairpin; spins BOR around; HUL clips DOO – I think the debris is from HUL’s front wing
Provisional result: HAM, PIA, VER, RUS, LEC, TSU, ANT, NOR; STR, ALO, ALB, GAS, HAD, LAW, BEA, OCO, SAI, BOR, HUL, DOO*
Penalties: DOO received a 10-sec penalty (and 2 points on his license) for causing a collision with BOR, but he was P20 anyway
Qualifying
Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
Air temperature 26°C; track 40°C; humidity 12%
There’s a long queue waiting for the lights to change – presumably that’s to let the tyre pressures drop to give them more grip
HUL 1:32.677
DOO spins, into a gravel trap but recovers to the track
OCO 1:32.370
GAS 1:32.310
NOR 1:32.036
HAM 1:31.690
PIA 1:31.591
NOR’s lap time was deleted for exceeding track limits
VER 1:31.424
5mins left; bottom 5 are GAS, SAI, ANT, LAW, DOO
LAW noted for failing to slow under yellow flags
Long queue of cars waiting to exit the pit lane for their final flying lap
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are OCO, GAS, SAI, LAW, DOO
TSU 1:31.238
HAD 1:31.162
NOR 1:30.983
SAI P8, BOR P16
BOR P16
GAS P15, BEA P16
DOO P17
LAW P19
OCO P13, GAS P16
Back of the grid: GAS, BEA, DOO, BOR, LAW
Rookie HAD was briefly P1 ends Q1 in P2
Qualifying session 2
OCO 1:31.795
ANT 1:31.590
RUS 1:31.307
PIA 1:31.200
NOR 1:30.787
5mins left; bottom 5 are STR, OCO, HAD, ALO, SAI
(VER P2)
(HAD P4)
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are OCO, HUL, STR, ALO, SAI
STR P13
ALO P13
SAI P15
HUL P12
Middle of the grid: OCO, HUL, ALO, STR, SAI
Top 10 shootout is between NOR, VER, PIA, HAD, TSU, RUS, LEC, HAM, ANT, ALB
Qualifying session 3
VER 1:30.925
ANT P2
HAD P2
TSU P3
PIA 1:30.703
HAM P3
ALB P7
LEC P4
NOR P2
RUS P5
Order after the first run: PIA, NOR, VER, HAM, RUS, LEC, HAD, TSU, ANT, ALB
ANT’s lap time deleted for exceeding track limits
HAD released from his garage right into the way of VER – that’s a clear penalty for the RB team
VER P3
HAD P7
NOR aborts his lap
Chequered flag; order is PIA, NOR, VER, HAM, RUS, LEC, HAD, ANT, TSU, ALB
HAM P4
PIA 1:30.641
TSU pits
LEC P6
RUS P2
ALB P10
Front of the grid: PIA, RUS, NOR, VER, HAM, LEC, HAD, ANT, TSU, ALB
Provisional grid: PIA, RUS, NOR, VER, HAM, LEC, HAD, ANT, TSU, ALB, OCO, HUL, ALO, STR, SAI, GAS, BEA, DOO, BOR, LAW
Penalties: VCARB are fined €5,000 for the unsafe release of HAD
Race
Pit lane is open; drivers can make their way to the grid
Grid: PIA, RUS, NOR, VER, HAM, LEC, HAD, ANT, TSU, ALB, OCO, HUL, ALO, STR, SAI, GAS, BEA, DOO, BOR, LAW*
*LAW will start from the pit lane after a suspension change
PIA leads everyone away on the formation lap
Everyone starting on medium tyres except STR, BEA and LAW on hards
There are already 4 drivers under investigation for doing their practice start in the wrong place
01/56: PIA defends into Turn 1
HAM has passed VER for P4
NOR takes P2 from RUS
Radio from VER tattling on LEC, reporting the Ferrari has a broken front wing
02: PIA, NOR, RUS, HAM, LEC, VER, ANT, TSU, HAD, OCO, ALB, ALO, GAS, STR, SAI, BEA, DOO, LAW, HUL, BOR
DRS enabled
Replay shows LEC bouncing on a kerb and hitting HAM’s rear right
03: Yellow flag
Radio for LEC assessing his front wing damage; they agree they can wait until his stop to replace it
04: Radio from GAS reporting ALO has a brake on fire
ALO slowing, heading for the pits
05/56: PIA, NOR, RUS, HAM, LEC, VER, ANT, TSU, HAD, OCO
ALO retires
Replay of the start shows BOR spun into a gravel trap but recovered; he pitted and took on hard tyres
06: Brief yellow flag
08: Radio from NOR saying he’s starting to struggle with his front tyres
09: LEC has DRS behind teammate HAM – I guess that broken front wing isn’t hindering him
10/56: PIA, NOR, RUS, HAM, LEC, VER, ANT, TSU, HAD, OCO, ALB, GAS, STR, SAI, BEA, DOO, LAW, HUL, BOR; out: ALO
Radio for LEC telling him they’re going with Plan B but LEC replies “If it stays like this, I want Plan A”
11: GAS pits; hards go on; rejoins P18
12: TSU pits, as does DOO; both go onto hards; rejoin P15 and P18 respectively
13: RUS fastest lap
ANT pits; rejoins P14, just behind TSU so RB’s undercut worked
14: HAM pits; hards go on; rejoins P10
VER pits; hards; P12
Radio from RUS saying his front left tyre is cleaning up
15/56: PIA pits from P1; a bit of a slow stop; rejoins P4
RUS pits; P8
OCO dives inside ANT to steal P14
16: NOR and LEC pit; NOR rejoins P5, behind RUS
LEC didn’t change front wing; rejoins P8
RUS past STR for P4
NOR takes P4 from STR
17: Birthday boy ALB is currently P1… but PIA passes him
18: NOR inside RUS into Turn 1 to take P3
LEC closing on HAM
HAM past STR for P5
19: LEC past STR for P6
NOR past ALB for P2
20/56: PIA, NOR, ALB, RUS, HAM, LEC, STR, VER, BEA, TSU
ALB pits; rejoins P14
LAW has pitted to switch off hard tyres, onto mediums – that’s early
22: HAM lets LEC through for P4
23: STR and BEA are the only ones yet to pit; they’re fighting over P7
24: BEA harrying STR, filling the Aston Martin’s mirrors
Radio from HAM asking his engineer for feedback
25/56: PIA, NOR, RUS, LEC, HAM, VER, STR, BEA, TSU, OCO, ANT, HAD, ALB, GAS, DOO, SAI, LAW, BOR, HUL
BEA dives inside STR at the hairpin but locks up
SAI past DOO for P15
26: LEC has DRS behind RUS
Half distance
27: BEA pits; mediums go on; rejoins P17
BOR pits again; his first stop was on lap 2
28: Radio for NOR telling him to push on; NOR says he doesn’t want to be in PIA’s dirty air
30/56: PIA, NOR, RUS, LEC, HAM, VER, STR, TSU, OCO, ANT
BOR fastest lap despite being P19
LEC’s Ferrari gets a bit squirmy in the hairpin
31: BEA passes LAW for P16 then LAW pits
32: NOR has now opened the 4sec gap over RUS that the team asked for
33: Radio for NOR telling him they’re going for Plan C, so NOR says PIA needs to speed up
DOO deep in the hairpin so BEA takes P15
LAW inside HUL for P17
35/56: PIA, NOR, RUS, LEC, HAM, VER, STR, TSU, OCO, ANT
Radio for NOR, “small risk of rain in the last 3 laps
36: BEA takes P12 from SAI
TSU makes his 2nd stop; rejoins P15 just ahead of teammate HAD
38: HAM pits; hards go on; rejoins P6
39: BEA attacking GAS for P10 but the Alpine stays ahead
40/56: PIA, NOR, RUS, LEC, VER, HAM, OCO, ANT, ALB, GAS, BEA, SAI, DOO, STR, TSU, HAD, LAW, HUL, BOR; out: ALO
BEA inside GAS into Turn 1, takes P10
41: HAM fastest lap 1:35.487
42: HAM f/lap 1:35.069
Radio for VER telling him to up his pace
43: STR takes P12 from SAI
45/56: PIA, NOR, RUS, LEC, VER, HAM, OCO, ANT, ALB, GAS, BEA
46: DOO locks up into the hairpin, forces TSU wide
47: TSU pits for new nose; rejoins P19
48: Radio from NOR reporting the brake pedal is going long
Incident involving DOO and NAD has been noted
49: Looks like DOO moved late under braking into Turn 1 as he defended from HAD
50/56: PIA, NOR, RUS, LEC, VER, HAM, OCO, ANT, ALB, BEA, GAS, STR, SAI, DOO, HAD, LAW, BOR, HUL, TSU
Ongoing conversation between NOR and his engineer about the brake pedal issue; NOR’s told it’s the pedal but his brakes will be fine
51: DOO given 10-sec penalty for forcing another car off the track
52: DOO moving under braking has been noted
VER lining up for a move on LEC
Radio for NOR telling him to watch his brake pressure
53: VER around the outside of LEC, taking P4
54: NOR is lapping faster than PIA but that can’t be good for his braking
55/56: PIA, NOR, RUS, VER, LEC, HAM, OCO, ANT, ALB, BEA
NAD trying to find a way round DOO – but DOO has a penalty, so why risk passing him?
Radio for NOR telling him the brake pedal issue is getting critical
56/56: NOR has backed off; RUS is under 5sec behind
PIA takes the chequered flag
NOR just manages to finish ahead of RUS
Provisional result: PIA, NOR, RUS, VER, LEC, HAM, OCO, ANT, ALB, BEA; GAS, STR, SAI, DOO*, HAD, LAW, BOR, HUL, TSU
DNF: ALO
Penalties:
Cars 16 (LEC) and 10 (GAS) were found to be under the required weight and were disqualified
The plank on car 44 was too thin so HAM was also disqualified
Final Classification: PIA, NOR, RUS, VER, OCO, ANT, ALB, BEA, STR, SAI; HAD, LAW, DOO, BOR, HUL, TSU
DSQ: LEC, HAM, GAS
DNF: ALO
[2025 calendar and driver line-up]
