Max Verstappen parlayed pole position and his customarily fast Red Bull into an easy win in the Formula 1 Lenovo Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday morning (April 21) at Shanghai International Circuit, outpacing runner up Lando Norris by over 14 seconds. Verstappen mastered two safety car restarts to gain his first win in China and his fourth victory in five races this season.
“This was definitely one that I wanted to win,” Verstappen said. “I’ve been on the podium here, but I haven’t won here before, so that was great, for sure. I definitely just enjoyed the whole weekend. It’s been really nice with a great car.
“Throughout the race, I mean, with the Safety Car and stuff, as always, things that you have to do well – the restarts and stuff – I guess they’re tense moments. The actual start, too. And after that, just a management race, looking after your tires, trying to extend the gap. So busy enough, but also enjoyable.”
Sergio Perez finished third after starting second, while the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished fourth and fifth, respectively. George Russell finished sixth, ahead of the charging Fernando Alonso in seventh. Alonso also nabbed an extra point for fastest lap. Oscar Piastri held on to eighth despite suffering damage in the second safety car restart. Lewis Hamilton took ninth after starting 18th, and Nico Hulkenberg snatched the final points-paying position.
In the drivers’ standings, Verstappen now leads Perez by 25, 110 to 85. Perez’s lead over Leclerc for second is only nine points, 85 to 76.
In the constructors’ standings, Red Bull leads Ferrari 195 to 151, with McLaren well back in third with 96, 44 ahead of Mercedes in fourth.
The Race
Verstappen was off well at lights out and easily covered Perez, who was left to deal with a great start from Alonso. Alonso stole the position from Perez into turn three as Verstappen zipped away from both, leading to a margin that has so often been a harbinger of a dominant Verstappen victory.
Leclerc and Sainz both lost spots at the start to Russell, who went from eighth to sixth, while Hamilton lost a position despite being on soft tires.
Verstappen’s lead after one lap was 1.6 seconds, and extended it to over three seconds by the end of lap three.
Perez reclaimed…
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