Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2025Formula 1

[Fezzik]

Standard boring sprint race

 

[McLaren]

Get in there, Lewis!

 

[Sum1s2pid]

Congrats to Lewis. I expected the Ferrari to absolutely munch its tires and leave him a sitting duck.

Nice bounce back for Piastri after that disappointing Australian GP. Glad Lando at least got a point.

Tsunoda with another decent result.

Antonelli continues to impress.

 

[toastet]

Good one Lewis, Oscar taking good points of Lando, could be very good tomorrow with the tyre deg!

Lights out and to bed we go!

 

[GlamFM]

Biggest surprise to me is McLaren not being better.

Maybe the mid week rear spoiler regulation change really nerfed them.

 

[Terronium-12]

Get in there, Lewis. I'm already way ahead thinking of things I shouldn't be.

 

[AshenGraey]

Well done Lewis. Hopefully he can maintain the same performance for qualy and the race. This tire deg situation should make the race interesting to watch on Sunday. Assuming that not everyone go full on tire nursing mode from the start

 

[Liquid]

I know it counts in some way but it doesn't count. Fussy git unhappy with gimmickification. But, but, but, but... a great drive from Hamilton. Has to be acknowledged either way. Full credit to him for that one.

 

[NickGuy]

8th wdc loading

 

[Fezzik]

8th wdc loading

Don't jinx it!

 

[Terronium-12]

https://www.racefans.net/2025/03/21/lawson-tsunoda-had-his-time-i-beat-him-in-the-junior-series/

Methinks Liam should just...focus on not being dead last, or getting into Q2, or finishing a race.

Not wise to throw shade at someone who's showing you up at the moment.

 

[Fezzik]

Yuki fastest
for a few seconds, beaten by Norris and Hadjar. Well done that young man.

Gasly, Bearman, Doohan, Bortoleto and Lawson out. Liam may not make it to the European races at this rate.

 

[McLaren]

https://www.racefans.net/2025/03/21/lawson-tsunoda-had-his-time-i-beat-him-in-the-junior-series/

Methinks Liam should just...focus on not being dead last, or getting into Q2, or finishing a race.

Not wise to throw shade at someone who's showing you up at the moment.

Yuki just put it 2nd before Hadjar pipped it him in Q1. Liam? Dead last again.

 

[Aphelion]

Oooof Lawson... absolutely tragic.

 

[Fezzik]

Looks like Norris is finally figuring out the McLaren for this track. Already ahead of Hamilton's lap record from yesterday.

 

[GlamFM]

Yeah looks like McLaren figured it out.

 

[Fezzik]

Not sure what's up with Sainz. 15th and out whilst Albon is through in 10th. Only 2 tenths behind though.
Ocon, Hulk, Alonso and Stroll also out.

Hadjar has some serious speed, very impressive.

 

[McLaren]

Both Racing Bulls through. I fully expect Marko/Horner to give Liam a few more races, but I'd wager the moment Racing Bulls is rivaling Red Bull in the standings (since they're relying on Max for points vs. Yuki/Hadjar), Liam's F1 career is basically done unless they swap him down & the next RB driver also struggles.

 

[Fezzik]

Both Racing Bulls through. I fully expect Marko/Horner to give Liam a few more races, but I'd wager the moment Racing Bulls is rivaling Red Bull in the standings (since they're relying on Max for points vs. Yuki/Hadjar), Liam's F1 career is basically done unless they swap him down & the next RB driver also struggles.

They are already trying to fast track Arvid Lindblad. He's not 18 until August but he's almost certainly in one of the 3 non-Max seats next year.

 

[GlamFM]

The second RB seat is cursed.

 

[AshenGraey]

Lawson = all talk. I think he is a bit too full of himself. I also think he's by far the worst teammate Max has had at the start of a season. Heck as bad as Devries was, he never qualified last during his stint at Alpha Tauri. And this guy is qualifying last in a Red Bull. This comparison is just to show how low the bar is.

Is it me or does Sainz just looks like he's underperforming a bit. I'm not surprised that Albon is beating him because just like Hamilton, I understand he needs time to get up to speed but I expected him to be closer to Albon.

 

[Fezzik]

Now the lap record goes to Oscar

 

[McLaren]

They are already trying to fast track Arvid Lindblad. He's not 18 until August but he's almost certainly in one of the 3 non-Max seats next year.

I don't doubt RB is trying to get the next prodigy up and running. I'm just in the belief that sometime mid-season, we'll know if it's really Liam or if that RB is such a wild car to that only Max is capable of handling it. Won't matter next year since it'll be an all-new car, but maybe something for RB to keep in mind.

 

[Fezzik]

PIASTRI POLE POSITION

Lando is going to have a problem this year now Oscar has figured out the single lap pace.
Russell P2, sneaks onto the front row unseen.

 

[Grayfox]

I wonder if Redbull regret putting Liam into the top team instead of letting their hate for Luki get in the way.

 

[GlamFM]

I wonder if Redbull regret putting Liam into the top team instead of letting their hate for Luki get in the way.

They will probably regret letting go of Checo now that it’s perfectly clear that the RB is undrivable for anyone but Max.

With that in mind Checo actually did a good job.

 

[Grayfox]

They will probably regret letting go of Checo now that it’s perfectly clear that the RB is undrivable for anyone but Max.

With that in mind Checo actually did a good job.

Checo was OK, but we should really see Yuki in the car.
Heck they should've tried to put Daniel in the year for a few races since according to Horner he was doing good in the Red Bull Sim, plus he was the only one that could keep up with Max, even if it was pre ground effect era.

 

[GlamFM]

Checo was OK, but we should really see Yuki in the car.
Heck they should've tried to put Daniel in the year for a few races since according to Horner he was doing good in the Red Bull Sim, plus he was the only one that could keep up with Max, even if it was pre ground effect era.

Yuki was just outqualified by Hadjar in Hadjar’s second F1 race though.
I honestly think he’s overrated. I like him, but I don’t think he has it and RB seems to think the same with all the data they have access to.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Trouble is if they get fed up of Lawson and chuck Hadjar into the car, it'll just be the same again. Stick Lawson and Max into the Racing Bulls and lets see what's going on.

 

[Dreadmed]

Is it me or does Sainz just looks like he's underperforming a bit. I'm not surprised that Albon is beating him because just like Hamilton, I understand he needs time to get up to speed but I expected him to be closer to Albon.

I would say being within 0.25 on a hotlap is acceptable, especially when he's still getting acclimatised to a car that was presumably designed to fit Albon's preferences. I also seem to recall Sainz being a bit hot + cold during his first season at Ferrari as well so it's very much a case of "wait and see" for me.