Car Unveils Top 5 Performers and 5 Underachievers from China: Who Shone Brightly as F1 Made its Comeback in Shanghai?
Cars: As Formula 1 made its highly anticipated return to China after a hiatus since 2019, the Shanghai International Circuit welcomed a packed audience enthusiastically rallying behind local hero Zhou Guanyu. Though Zhou didn’t clinch the fairytale victory he envisioned, the weekend witnessed several drivers basking in the glory of their performances. Here, we spotlight the standout performers and disappointments from the Chinese Grand Prix.
Triumphant: Max Verstappen
Max Verstappen showcased a masterful display of skill, clinching his inaugural Chinese Grand Prix triumph and marking his fourth win in five Grands Prix this season.
The Red Bull driver’s relentless speed enabled him to establish commanding leads following the start and two subsequent Safety Car restarts. Additionally, he secured victory in the Sprint, achieving a remarkable Sprint and Grand Prix double for the third consecutive Sprint weekend.
In the past 357 days, Max Verstappen has suffered defeat in a Grand Prix only twice, both times at the hands of Carlos Sainz. Presently, he commands a 25-point lead over his teammate Sergio Perez in the drivers’ standings.
Verstappen’s pursuit of a fourth consecutive title, a feat that would bring him level with former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel, is steadily gaining momentum.
Underperformer: Daniel Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo came tantalizingly close to a stellar weekend, showcasing superior performance compared to his Red Bull teammate Yuki Tsunoda for the first time this season.
The Australian driver outpaced Tsunoda in qualifying for the first time in 2024 and also outperformed him in Sprint qualifying. However, his hopes for scoring his first points of the year were dashed when Lance Stroll collided into the back of his car, resulting in significant damage and ultimately forcing him to retire from the race.
Adding insult to injury, Ricciardo was slapped with a three-place grid penalty for the next event, to be applied during the Sprint race in Miami, for illegally overtaking Nico Hulkenberg under the Safety Car.
Victor: Lando Norris
Despite initial expectations of struggles for his McLaren at the Shanghai International Circuit, particularly in the long-duration corners, Lando Norris defied odds by showcasing exceptional prowess in wet conditions.
Securing pole position for the Sprint, Norris proceeded to exhibit one of the finest performances of his career, clinching second place in the Grand Prix. Notably, he skillfully fended off Sergio Perez’s Red Bull, firmly asserting his dominance on the track.
This marked Lando Norris’s eighth second-place finish in Formula 1, with seven of those achieved within the last 18 Grands Prix. Additionally, his remarkable performance granted McLaren their first podium at the Shanghai International Circuit since Jenson Button secured second place in 2012.
Underperformers: Aston Martin
Aston Martin squandered a valuable opportunity to maximize their points haul during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, missing a chance to apply pressure on Mercedes in the battle for fourth place in the constructors’ championship.
Fernando Alonso showed resilience by contending within the top three during the Sprint race, only to be hindered by a puncture following a collision with Carlos Sainz. Alonso was held responsible for the incident and received a post-race 10-second time penalty, ultimately leading to his retirement from the race.
On race day, Safety Car interventions disrupted his three-stop strategy, although he managed to mount a comeback, securing seventh place and maintaining his streak of scoring points in every Grand Prix this season.
Meanwhile, teammate Lance Stroll’s failure to score points, attributed to his collision with Ricciardo, marked his third non-top-10 finish in five races this season.
Champion: Zhou Guanyu
After an agonizing wait of over two years, Zhou Guanyu finally realized his dream of becoming the first Chinese driver to compete in Formula 1 on home turf.
Although he fell short of securing the coveted points, the 24-year-old displayed commendable resilience by finishing a commendable ninth in the Sprint race and achieving a season’s best 14th position in the Grand Prix.
Zhou adeptly navigated the immense pressure of representing his nation, gracefully handling a barrage of media commitments, promotional activities, and fan engagements in the weeks leading up to the event and throughout the race weekend. Impressively, he thrived under the spotlight, channeling the attention into motivation rather than allowing it to burden him.
Underperformers: Ferrari
While not too distant in the past, securing fourth and fifth positions in the Grand Prix would have been deemed a commendable outcome for Ferrari. However, the Prancing Horse has significantly elevated its performance in recent times, emerging as the closest contender to Red Bull.
Unfortunately, in China, Ferrari found themselves outpaced by Red Bull and surpassed by McLaren in terms of both qualifying and race pace. Charles Leclerc’s fourth-place finish extended his streak of securing top-four finishes in every race this season.
Carlos Sainz, who endured a qualifying crash that left him at a disadvantage, managed to clinch his maiden top-six finish in Shanghai. However, it marked the first instance this year where he did not ascend to the podium after starting a Grand Prix.
Triumphant: Nico Hulkenberg
Nico Hulkenberg continued his impressive performance in the 2024 season by securing his third points finish in the last four Grands Prix.
To provide context, the Haas driver’s achievement stands out even more considering he only scored once throughout the entire 2023 campaign.
Currently occupying the 13th position in the drivers’ standings, Hulkenberg holds a three-point advantage over his teammate Kevin Magnussen. In a season where every point holds significance in the battle for sixth place in the constructors’ championship, and with his sights set on securing a new contract for the following season, each score could potentially shape his future in Formula 1.
Underachievers: Kick Sauber
Kick Sauber had been showing promise of scoring points over the past couple of races, positioning themselves favourably in the Sprint with ninth and 10th places on the grid. However, they were unable to break into the top eight to secure any points.
On race day, Valtteri Bottas, starting from inside the top 10, was poised to contend for points when an engine issue forced him to retire prematurely.
Despite being in contention alongside rivals Williams and Alpine, Kick Sauber is yet to score a point, placing them at the bottom of the constructors’ championship. Their best result so far remains the least impressive among the trio.
Triumphant: Alpine Alpine
Triumphant: Alpine Alpine’s inclusion in the winners’ circle might appear unconventional, considering their failure to secure points. However, the Chinese Grand Prix marked a significant milestone for them as it was the first race this year where they completed on the lead lap.
Esteban Ocon’s 11th-place finish stood as both his and the team’s best result of the season, serving as evidence that the team, bolstered by the introduction of a new floor in Shanghai, is gradually reasserting itself in the midfield.
Underperformers: Mercedes
Despite Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff’s pre-race simulations predicting a sixth and ninth-place finish, the actual outcome – achieved by George Russell and Lewis Hamilton – fell short of the team’s lofty aspirations.
Russell’s sixth-place finish marked a historic moment as it resulted in Mercedes finishing outside the top five in Shanghai for the first time in their history. Furthermore, this race marked the first instance since 2011 where Mercedes failed to secure a position of fourth or higher in at least one of the first five races of the season.
On the flip side, Hamilton staged an impressive comeback to secure points with a ninth-place finish after starting from the 18th position on the grid. Notably, this marked the third occasion in five races that he found himself in such a disadvantaged position.
