Summary

  1. Piastri leads Norris to McLaren one-two in Chinapublished at 09:55 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent

    Lando Norris and Oscar PiastriImage source, Getty Images

    Oscar Piastri led Lando Norris to a dominant McLaren one-two in the Chinese Grand Prix ahead of George Russell's Mercedes.

    Piastri's calm, controlled victory made it two wins from two for McLaren at the start of the season following Norris' outstanding drive in the wet in Melbourne last weekend.

    The Australian led from pole and lost first place only briefly in the period around the leaders' only pit stops. Piastri was rarely more than four seconds ahead of Norris but always in control.

    Norris was struggling with fading brakes in the closing laps but had enough of an advantage to hold Russell at bay.

    Charles Leclerc drove an outstanding race in a Ferrari with a damaged front wing, his pace forcing Ferrari to order team-mate Lewis Hamilton out of his way.

    Read the full report here

  2. Goodbyepublished at 09:53 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Oscar Piastri celebrates winning the Chinese Grand PrixImage source, Getty Images

    The Chinese Grand Prix belongs to Oscar Piastri, the Australian driver converting his Saturday maiden pole position into a Sunday race victory. His team-mate Lando Norris is the early championship leader by eight points, while McLaren, who scored their 50th one-two, are ahead in the constructors' fight by a comfortable margin.

    Thanks for joining us, folks. Gold stars if you got up at the crack of dawn every day to follow along.

    We'll be back for first and second practice at Suzuka on Friday, 4 April, starting at 03:30 BST - so another bleary alarm call. D'oh!

    Enjoy your Sunday and see you soon!

  3. 'I feel good in life in general and that's what matters the most' - Verstappenpublished at 09:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Max VerstappenImage source, Getty Images

    Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished in fourth and on the car coming alive in the final stint, he told Sky Sports: "I suddenly picked up tyre grip not balance, the balance was the same but the tyre grip where maybe just others plateaued a little bit more.

    "The lap times were more promising for us at least and it was a bit more fun to drive with a few battles. The first half of the race was quite tough but we just set out to do our own pace."

    On making improvements: "It's difficult to say when you don't really know where to find it or how to find it. In that last stint it gives us a bit more of a clearer picture."

    On staying with the team: "I hear this all the time but for me nothing changes. I'm actually very relaxed and very positive in my mind, I'm enjoying life. Every time I've driven in the car I'm just trying to do the best I can and I'm not thinking about anything else. I feel good in life in general if that's in or outside the car and that's actually what matters the most."

  4. 'I felt a good few steps behind' - Norrispublished at 09:44 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Lando NorrisImage source, Reuters

    There is a long way to go in this title race but with Lando Norris eight points clear of defending champion Max Verstappen, the season has started on a positive note for the Briton. His race in Shanghai was nervous towards the end, leading to his first real challenge in the car.

    He told Sky Sports: "It's going to be exciting for all of us. It's tough but I'm still feeling good, with how bad the car was yesterday and the day before, I felt a good few steps behind in terms of driving and car balance.

    The pace difference just shows when a car suits you compared to not. I felt very confident today, a positive for learning. I've been driving a McLaren for six, seven years, this weekend was a completely new one for me and I had to change a lot of things, glad that I got some answers."

  5. Fan Q&A: Send us your questionspublished at 09:40 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Fan Q&AImage source, BBC Sport

    The Fan Q&A is open for you to send us your thoughts after the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, so send your thoughts over to Andrew Benson via the link here

  6. Where is F1 going next?published at 09:36 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Two races down, loads more to go. Next up on the calendar is the first triple-header of the season. When we come back together in two weeks' time, the clocks will have gone forward here in the UK.

    4-6 April

    Japanese Grand Prix - race starts at 06:00 BST

    11-13 April

    Bahrain Grand Prix - race starts at 16:00

    18-20 April

    Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - race start at 18:00

  7. 'It cost me quite a bit for the rest of the race' - Leclercpublished at 09:32 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Charles LeclercImage source, Getty Images

    Charles Leclerc finished fifth in the Ferrari and on his front wing damage, he told Sky Sports: "It's not Lewis' [Hamilton] fault at all and on my side I was just round the inside trying to position the car for Turn Three, Lewis didn't know I was there and I did not expect him to take the apex at the moment he was on the outside.

    "It's a racing incident, it is not the first or last time it will happen but it's a shame that it happened between the two red cars but obviously there was no bad intentions from either of us. That was unfortunate and obviously it cost me quite a bit for the rest of the race."

    On why the team didn't change the front wing: "We are speaking about a big big loss on my car, there was the potential to do a lot better but we didn't want to take the eight-seconds at the pit-stop for changing the front wing because then I would of had to overtake cars.

    "We were very weak in Turn 12 so that was making us very vulnerable with the cars behind and making it difficult for any overtakes because on the way up to Turn 14 we were too far off. I didn't want to take that risk, I just wanted to keep track position."

  8. Postpublished at 09:27 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Lando Norris says he was "lucky to finish the race today" while chatting to Sky Sports and agrees George Russell would have caught him for second place if there was a lap or two more.

    Over at Ferrari, Charles Leclerc said it was racing incident between himself and team-mate Lewis Hamilton on the opening lap in Shanghai. Full quotes to come from the Monegasque driver.

    Meanwhile, George Russell has got his phone out already, taking a snap of himself and the McLarens boys in the cooldown room. He's captioned his pic: "So nice to kick off the season with back-to-back podiums. Great job from the team & thank you for the amazing support See you next year. Xie xie."

    George RussellImage source, George Russell X
  9. McLaren out in frontpublished at 09:23 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Oscar PiastriImage source, Getty Images

    Constructors' champions McLaren are 25 points clear of Mercedes at the top of the teams standings. Red Bull and Ferrari in third and fourth are separated by one point, while more points in the bag for Williams keeps them in the top five.

    1. McLaren - 78

    2. Mercedes - 53

    3. Red Bull - 36

    4. Ferrari - 35

    5. Williams - 12

    6. Aston Martin - 8

    7. Haas - 7

    8. Sauber - 6

    9. Racing Bulls - 3

    10. Alpine - 0

  10. Norris leading the waypublished at 09:19 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Podium celebrationsImage source, Getty Images

    Lando Norris has increased his title lead over Max Verstappen to eight points, but the margins are tight between the Dutchman in second, George Russell in third and Shanghai race winner Oscar Piastri in fourth.

    Haas' Esteban Ocon has moved in to the top 10 with his seventh place in round two.

    1. Lando Norris (McLaren) - 44pts

    2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - 36

    3. George Russell (Mercedes) - 35

    4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - 34

    5. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 18

    6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 18

    7. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - 17

    8. Alex Albon (Williams) - 12

    9. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - 8

    10. Esteban Ocon (Haas) - 6

  11. 'It was probably one of my best weekends' - Russellpublished at 09:14 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    George RussellImage source, Getty Images

    George Russell, who finished in third in the Mercedes: “It’s a great result to finish in P3 especially in front of all these fans here, it has been amazing support for everybody this year.

    “It was a great race and I'm really pleased with P3, we knew McLaren were a smidge quicker than us, a few crucial points but well done to those two [Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris].

    On the one-stop: “I felt from quite early on that the one-stop could be possibly and it turned out to be slightly easier than we probably all anticipated.

    “Nonetheless the car has been great, it was probably one of my best weekends in Formula One in terms of the overall performance so I’m really pleased with that and just maximising every single time out on track, I’m pleased to be on the podium.”

    On expecting pressure: “Charles [Leclerc] was putting me under quite a lot of pressure a few laps after the pit-stop and obviously it was a bit dicey with Lando [Norris] for a few laps, but there on in it was quite a straightforward race.”

  12. 'We survived and made it to the end' - Norrispublished at 09:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    McLaren boss Zak Brown and Lando NorrisImage source, Getty Images

    McLaren's Lando Norris, who finished second in Shanghai: "There were a few fun moments, at the start I was hoping for exactly that. Turn One went to plan but then George [Russell] got me on the pit stops. I was a little bit nervous but our pace was a lot better in the second stint. Tough race, just for the management and I don't think many people expected a one-stop today so that was good.

    "Oscar drove well, he was quick the whole race, so I tried to get close but in the end I just couldn't.

    On whether he thought he could challenge team-mate Oscar Piastri: "It doesn't matter now, does it? It doesn't matter. He deserved the win, he's driver really well all weekend. I'm happy with second, it's good points. It's great points for us as a team, with a one-two so a big thanks to everyone in Papaya, just how we want to do it.

    On his brake issue: "It's scary, it is like my worst nightmare, brakes failing. I was losing two, three, four seconds the last couple of laps so I was a bit scared. We survived and made it to the end. I would have liked to give it a bit of a try and put Oscar under a bit of pressure but not today, we're satisfied, great result and we'll go again next time."

  13. 'I’m extremely happy and the team did a mega job' - Piastripublished at 09:05 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Oscar PiastriImage source, Getty Images

    McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who wins the Chinese Grand Prix from pole position: “It’s been an incredible weekend from start to finish, the car has been pretty mega the whole time. I think today was a bit of a surprise with how the tyres behaved but I’m super proud and what I feel like I deserve from last week. I’m extremely happy and the team did a mega job, a one-two obviously, I’m very happy.”

    On the tyres: “On the medium [tyre] it was still a bit tricky but much better than yesterday, and the hard was a much better tyre than what everyone expected, certainly than we expected, so to go all the way to the end that was a bit of a surprise, but a happy surprise.

    “I’m very proud of the race we managed to pull off and it wasn’t an easy one going in, I’m proud of the whole team and the weekend I’ve been able to pull off.”

    On the crowd: “Thanks for the support, the crowd has been exceptional this week, there’s a few too many Lewis Hamilton fans but that’s OK, we will convert some of you next year. Thanks for coming out, the support has been incredible this year, I’ve really enjoyed it.”

  14. champagne moment

    Champagne momentpublished at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris and George Russell on the podiumImage source, Getty Images

    The top three have reached the cooldown room and now they're watching the highlights of the grand prix. "You did really well to sort of block me off a bit," George Russell tells winner Oscar Piastri.

    The trio then get a look at Charles Leclerc's damaged front wing from his early contact with team-mate Lewis Hamilton and all agree the Ferrari driver did well to finish as high as he did. Jokes about it being a new flexi wing design and 'Multi 21 Seb' then follow.

    Now for the podium and the Aussie national anthem. Time to get soaked and celebrate.

  15. And the restpublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    11. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

    12. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

    13. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

    14. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)

    15. Liam Lawson (Red Bull)

    16. Jack Doohan (Alpine)

    17. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)

    18. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)

    19. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)

    DNF. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

  16. Top 10published at 08:52 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

    2. Lando Norris (McLaren)

    3. George Russell (Mercedes)

    4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

    5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

    6. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

    7. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

    8. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

    9. Alex Albon (Williams)

    10. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

    McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar PiastriImage source, Getty Images
  17. Points for birthday boy Albonpublished at 08:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Alex Albon qualified 10th and the Williams man gained a place by the end of the 56-lap Chinese Grand Prix to finish ninth. A birthday treat for the 29-year-old.

  18. Bearman finishes in the pointspublished at 08:46 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Britain's Oliver Bearman started 17th on the grid but the teenager produced some lovely overtakes during his one-stop race and finishes in the final points position in 10th. It was a great day all round for Haas, as Esteban Ocon also took seventh spot to deliver double points for the American-based team.

  19. Postpublished at 08:44 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    It's races like that that are critical to mount a championship charge.

  20. Postpublished at 08:41 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March

    Max Verstappen finishes in the fourth place he started in - a good result for the Dutchman after a difficult race start. Charles Leclerc takes fifth spot with his Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton ends his Shanghai race in sixth.