2024-04-21 09:35:39
We no longer know very well whether Max Verstappen bores us or impresses us with his domination. The Chinese Grand Prix this Sunday in Shanghai once again offered us this curious mix of emotion, with his fourth victory of the season in five races, his 58th career, the day after his triumph already in the sprint race. A success, his first in Shanghai, back after five years of absence from the calendar, once again very (very) wide.
Starting in pole position, the three-time world champion was never worried, even at the start. Alongside him on the front row, his teammate gave in at the first corner to Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), losing all hope of making “Mad Max” tremble. In five laps spent behind the Spaniard, the Mexican had already accumulated more than 5 seconds behind the Dutchman.
And even the double Safety Car triggered by the retirement of Valtteri Bottas (Sauber) on the 21st lap, then by the two collisions between Stroll and Ricciardo, and between Tsunoda and Magnussen at the first restart of the race, will not have changed the outcome. of this race. “It’s just so nice to drive a car like that. We were so fast all weekend,” Verstappen said. Lando Norris, second when the safety cars intervened during the pit stops, was unable to do anything against Verstappen on these two restarts.
Norris ahead of Perez, Ocon not far from the points
All the interest in this GP was once again focused on the identity of the two other drivers candidates for the podium behind the Dutchman, the broadcasters’ cameras even going so far as to forget, as often, to show us the triumphant march of the three-time reigning world champion.
In this game, it was Norris on his McLaren, elected driver of the day, who completed a perfect race, keeping Perez (3rd) at a reasonable distance thanks to a team strategy executed to perfection. The Briton had already shown himself at ease this weekend in Shanghai by taking pole position in the sprint before missing out in the race. “I didn’t think I would have this pace, especially compared to Red Bull,” enthused Lando Norris. I didn’t expect to finish so far ahead of the Ferraris! »
💥 FAIL AT LA RELANCE!
Following Bottas’ engine problem, the restart was a real fiasco!
Both VCARBs were damaged and a new safety car was deployed! 🍿#ChineseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/UrkHkNg1H3
— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) April 21, 2024
Much further on, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz complete the Top 5 ahead of George Russell (Mercedes) and Fernando Alonso, author of five overtakes at the end of the race on his new tires, and the point for the best lap. 18th on the starting grid, Lewis Hamilton made a good comeback to 9th place behind Oscar Piastri (McLaren) but ahead of Nico Hülkenberg who closes the Top 10.
Just behind, the two Alpines have still not managed to score a single point despite three retirements from seemingly more efficient cars (Ricciardo, Tsunoda, Bottas) and the 10-second penalties inflicted on Magnussen and Stroll. With a small improvement on his flat background, Esteban Ocon, a time 10th, showed a slight increase in performance but still too tight to hope to grab points at the checkered flag (11th, 2 seconds behind the Top 10).
Pierre Gasly pushes a mechanic in the pits.🚨
The Frenchman’s car was released while the right rear tire was not fixed. The mechanic is fine. 🙏#ChineseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/TLSlgPfHqQ
— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) April 21, 2024
For his part, Pierre Gasly, 13th, was never able to hope for anything, even failing to run over his mechanic during a pit stop missed by his team. The struggle continues… Before real improvements in Miami in two weeks?
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