Race Notes - Verstappen cruises to Shanghai win

By Mark Karp

Max Verstappen dominated the Chinese GP to win the race in his Red Bull-Honda.

Lando Norris in the McLaren-Mercedes was second, 13.772s behind the winner.

Sergio Perez in the Red Bull finished third, 19.160s behind the winner.

The victory is Verstappen’s 58 career win, and fourth of the five races so far in the 2024 season. It was 116th win for Red Bull.

With his eighth second place Norris takes his 15th career podium finish, Perez’s takes his 39th podium.

Charles Leclerc (23.623s) in the Ferrari finished fourth, followed by his team mate Carlo Sainz (33.983s) in fifth, George Russell (38.724s) in the Mercedes GP was sixth, Fernando Alonso (43.414s) in the Aston Martin-Mercedes was seventh, Oscar Piastri (56.198s) in the second McLaren was eighth, Lewis Hamilton (57.986s) in the second Mercedes was ninth, and Nico Hulkenberg (1m00.476s) in the Haas-Ferrari took the final point in tenth place.

Before the start, after five years away from running at Shanghai, with overcast skies, though no rain is expected, but Verstappen reporting drizzle before the start.

Verstappen after winning the Sprint race also qualifyed on pole with his team mate alongside on the front row, Alonso and Norris on row two, Piastri and Leclerc on row three, Sainz and Russell on row four, Hulkenberg and Bottas rounding out the top ten. Hamilton, after finishing second in the sprint, starting from 18th on the grid.

Sargeant will start from the pitlane.

All drivers starting on medium tyres, except Stroll, Hamilton, Tsunoda and Sargeant on soft tyres.

At the appointed time the cars took to the formation lap, lined up on the grid, the lights went out and Verstappen gets off of line ahead, Alonso passes Perez into the first corner up second. The Ferrari off the line loses places.

At the end of lap 1 Verstappen leads Alonso, Perez, Norris, Piastri, Russell, Leclerc, Sainz, Stroll and Hulkenberg in tenth,

Hamilton dropping to 19th.

On lap 3 Hamilton passes Zhou for 18th. Verstappen putting a second a lap on Alonso, leading by 3.8 seconds.

On lap 5, Alonso pushing on his tyres, is passed by Perez for second place.

Hamilton passes Magnussen for 17th,

On lap 7 Norris passes Alonso for third place.

Ocon passes his team mate Gasly for 12th.

On lap 9 Leclerc passes Russell at the first corner for sixth place. Zhou pits switching to hard tyres.

Stroll, Bottas, Ocon, Albon, Tsunoda and Hamilton pit for tyres. Hamilton tells the team “that was the worst tyre”, describing the softs.

On lap 12 Sainz passes Russell.

Alonso and Russell pit.

On lap 13 Hamilton passes Tsunoda for 15th.

On lap 14 Verstappen and Perez pit both switching to hard tyres.

Norris leads from Leclerc, Verstappen, Piastri, Sainz, Perez, Alonso, Russell, Magnussen and Stroll in tenth.

On lap 16 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m39.591s.

Verstappen passes Leclerc for second place.

Hamilton complains his car is so slow, and runs

On lap 17 Piastri pits for medium tyres and rejoins ninth,

Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m39.519s.

On lap 18 Perez battles with Sainz. Sainz then pits for hard tyres and rejoins tenth.

McLaren reports to Norris that Leclerc might be trying to make a one-stopper.

On lap 19 Verstappen passes Norris, who is yet to pit, to take the lead.

At lap 20, Verstappen leads from Norris by 2.0 seconds, followed by Leclerc (9.6s), Perez (13.0s), Alonso (26.6s), Russell (29.2s), Piastri (32.0s), Stroll (36.5s), Sainz (37.2s), and Hulkenberg (44.1s) in tenth.

On lap 21 Bottas pulls off the track with a smoking engine.

The virtual safety car is deployed, Leclerc pits for hard tyres and comes out fifth behind Alonso.

Stroll and Hamilton pit.

On lap 23 Noris pits for hard tyres and rejoins in third place. The marharls are having trouble getting Bottas’ car into neutral and moving it. The full safety car is out.

Verstappen and Perez pit for hard tyre. Alonso, Russell, Hulkenberg, Ocon, Tsunoda, Albon, Zhou and Gasly and Piastri all pit.

Behind the safety car, Verstappen leads Norris, Leclerc, Perez, Sainz, Alonso, Russell, Piastri, Ricciardo, and Stroll in tenth, followed by Hulkenberg, Ocon, Hamilton, Magnuessen, Tsunoda, Albon, Sargeant, Zhou, and Gasly in 19th place.

On lap 26 the safety car is in at the end of the lap and the race resumes with Verstappen out front, most drivers might able to reach the finish without pitting again. Stroll rear ends Ricciardo. Magnussen has contact with Tsunoda. Tsunoda limps around to the pits. The safety car is out again.

At lap 28, under the safety car, at half distance Verstappen leads Norris, Leclerc, Perez, Alonso, Sainz, Russell, Piastri, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg and Hamilton in eleventh,

At the start of lap 32 the safety car is in and the race resumes and Verstappen streaks out in the lead. Hulkeberg passes Ricciardo for ninth. Hamilton passes Ricciardo as well, Ricciardo is running slowing with damage and is dropping back.

On lap 32 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m38.406s.

Sargeant is given a 10-second penalty for a safety car infringement. Magnussen is given a 10-second penalty for his contact with Tsunoda.

Stroll and Magnussen battle and Stoll takes 16th.

Ricciardo retires in the pits.

On lap 36 Stroll pits, takes his 10-second penalty for his contact with Ricciardo, and then switches to hard tyres and rejoins last in 17th.

On lap 39 Zhou passes Sargeant for 13th.

Perez passes Leclerc for third.

At lap 40 Verstappen leads Norris by 5.0 seconds, followed by Perez (10.4s), Lecler (11.7s), Alonso (14.8s), Sainz (19.2s), Russell (20.4s), Piastri (26.1s), Hulkenberg (27.9s) and Hamilton (28.5s) in tenth.

On lap 41 Hamilton passes Hulkenberg for ninth.

Piastri is struggling with associated damage from the Stroll/Ricciardo contact.

On lap 43 Magnussen passes Sargeant for 13th, and still has a 10-second penalty.

On lap 44 Alonso pits from fifth and changes from soft to medium tyres and rejoins 12th.

Alonso passes Albon for 11th.

On lap 46 Alonso sets fastest lap at 1m37.810s.

Alonso passes Ocon for tenth.

On lap 47 Alonso [asses Hulkenberg for ninth.

On lap 49 Alonso puts a wheel off at the final corner, and then passes Hamilton for eighth, then the next lap passes Piastri for seventh.

At lap 50 Verstappen leads Norris by 10.9 seconds, followed by Perez (15.8s), Leclerc (19.5s), Sainz (20.8s), Russell (32.6s), Alonso (42.7s), Piastri (46.3s), Hamilton (48.0s) and Hulkenberg (50.6s) and in tenth.

On lap 54 Zhou passes Magnussen for 14th.

At the finish Verstappen wins over Norris and Perez.