On F1’s return to the Shanghai Worldwide Circuit for the primary time since 2019, Verstappen cemented his place because the runaway factors chief with a lights-to-flag win within the RB20.
Norris loved a robust run to second, leaving Sergio Perez to accept third within the different Pink Bull.
The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz occupied fourth and fifth positions, forward of the lead Mercedes of George Russell.
Our writers give their verdict on the fifth spherical of the 2024 season.
Blended emotions after one other Max masterclass: 5/10 – Filip Cleeren
A lot as I can’t assist being in awe of one in all Max Verstappen’s most dominant performances to date, which is saying loads given the run he’s on, I also can not assist being underwhelmed by the season to date. The Chinese language Grand Prix was no completely different, even when skirmishes in midfield livened up the plot. This race was completely crying out for a security automobile to spice issues up. After which we obtained one, and the highest three nonetheless drove off into the gap with giant gaps in between…
Shanghai’s distinctive format and Tarmac coating threw up some intriguing surprises, comparable to McLaren’s Lando Norris blowing away the struggling Ferraris. That possibly will get it a greater rating than the race actually deserved, however it’s annoying that just about each grand prix appears to have a transparent second-fastest group reasonably than a extra intense combat behind the sovereign Verstappen.
Even with security automobiles and clashes, lack of motion on the entrance is the main downside: 5/10 – Haydn Cobb
A race with two security automobiles, a number of clashes, technique variation and loads of overtakes ought to give the Chinese language GP the next rating. However, when all that solely impacts the underside half of the pack, it blunts the sting and subsequent pleasure. Positive, Lando Norris splitting the Pink Bulls and the one-stoppers figuring out is one thing, however not memorable sufficient to present it the next rating.
Shanghai exhibits good racing is feasible with present automobiles: 6/10 – Ben Vinel
This was arguably one of the best grand prix to date this season, though the bar has admittedly been very low. Max Verstappen gave one other masterclass on the entrance of the sector, dealing with the race completely; he was by no means threatened on the protection automobile restarts.
Nonetheless, behind him, there have been many attention-grabbing fights, together with within the prime 10. Kevin Magnussen and Lance Stroll battling it out in the back of the sector might not have had a lot at stake, but it surely was one of the best wheel-to-wheel motion we have seen all 12 months. Such spectacular racing was at all times a characteristic of the Shanghai Worldwide Circuit; seeing it immediately proves that current-generation F1 automobiles – which had by no means raced there as a result of COVID-19 pandemic – are fairly able to overtaking one another in sure circumstances, regardless of normally falling in need of their targets in that space.
Momentum in F1 2024 is slowly increase: 6/10 – Rachit Thukral
It appeared just like the Chinese language Grand Prix can be one other commonplace F1 affair till the mid-race drama injected some much-needed life into the race.
Whereas removed from a thriller, there was loads of motion up and down the sector, and the overtaking strikes weren’t simply restricted to DRS zones. There have been additionally some foolish incidents, clashes and technique variations, plus a healthful second for house hero Zhou Guanyu to cap all of it off.
Max Verstappen’s dominance did take away some shine from the race, however the truth that two successive security automobile intervals bunched up the sector and introduced some pleasure proved that it received’t be too lengthy earlier than F1 2024 delivers an absolute nail-biter.