Red Bull's Max Verstappen continued his dominant streak in Formula 1 by clinching victory at the Chinese Grand Prix. This win marked his fourth victory in five races this season and his 23rd in the last 27 races. Verstappen's only setback was a brake failure at the Australian GP, which prevented him from a potential clean sweep.
Starting from pole, Verstappen led for most of the race, with McLaren's Lando Norris finishing second and Red Bull's Sergio Perez in third. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz secured fourth and fifth place, respectively.
Verstappen now leads the championship standings with 110 points, followed by Perez (85), Leclerc (76), Sainz (69), and Norris (58).
The race saw two safety car interventions due to incidents involving Valtteri Bottas, Kevin Magnussen, Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll, and Daniel Ricciardo. Verstappen also triumphed in the sprint race on Saturday, despite expressing reservations about the format's impact on team personnel.
The next race in Miami poses a different challenge for Verstappen, who acknowledged the varied track conditions and tire requirements. The event attracted celebrities like Yao Ming and Eileen Gu, adding glamour to the F1 spectacle.
With Verstappen's dominance, the battle for positions behind him intensifies, with Mercedes' George Russell describing it as a competitive fight for places three through eight. The return of F1 to China after a hiatus due to the pandemic was emotional for local driver Zhou Guanyu, who finished 14th.
Looking ahead, the sport anticipates changes in 2026 with new regulations, potentially altering the current Red Bull supremacy. For now, Verstappen's reign continues, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
