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The 2024 F1 Chinese GP ended with Max Verstappen on top followed by a surprised-looking Lando Norris. In a race that started with expectations of another Red Bull '1-2' finish, the McLaren driver surprised himself and everyone with his pace while the Dutch driver reigned supreme at the front.
The 2024 F1 Chinese GP was an interesting race where there were multiple collisions and safety car stoppages which played a role in how the teams picked strategy. We had collisions between Lance Stroll and Daniel Ricciardo, and another one between Kevin Magnussen and Yuki Tsunoda, which caused multiple stoppages.
In the end, it was Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, and Sergio Perez on the podium as the F1 Chinese GP race weekend came to an end. As the weekend winds down, who would be happy with how it all panned out, and who would be a bit disappointed? Let's take a look.
2024 F1 Chinese GP
Winner
Max Verstappen
The weekend started with a somewhat iffy qualifying session for Verstappen where he could not adapt to the wet conditions and qualified only P4 for the Sprint. From that point onwards, it was just ruthlessness from the Dutch driver as one by one he picked off multiple cars and won the sprint.
Then he went on to dominate qualifying and the race with a gap not only to the rest of the field but his teammate which was just too big. You're not only looking at the Dutch driver having the best car, you're looking at someone who's making a difference in that car as well.
Loser
Ferrari
This is arguably the reality check that Ferrari needs because how the team has talked the big game since Melbourne, it has not backed that up whatsoever. After the safety car, Max Verstappen was pulling out a second per lap on Charles Leclerc on similar tires, you just cannot make that gap up in a season.
Ferrari needs upgrades and the fact that even Lando Norris pipped the team this easily is going to be a concern.
Winner
Lando Norris
Lando Norris finished the 2024 F1 Chinese GP in P2 while his teammate was not even top 5. Just to add further context, his teammate is expected to be one of the next big talents of the sport.
There were suggestions last season that Oscar Piastri could be the lead McLaren driver in the long term. Whether that happens or not is a question for the future because, at the moment, Lando might just be the closest challenger to Max Verstappen.
His lap in the wet weather was stunning. One could argue he probably lost a win with a bad start in the sprint but he redeemed himself brilliantly and deserves accolades for an impressive weekend.
Loser
Lance Stroll
Not much to say about Lance because first of all, he should not even be battling the likes of Daniel Ricciardo when he's driving an Aston Martin. The fact that he's still stuck in that cycle is going to hurt him because sooner rather than later, the lack of results is going to impact him mentally.
The incident was a poor case of misjudgement and so was the outburst on the radio afterwards.
Winner
Nico Hulkenberg
Nico Hulkenberg has been slowly chipping away at Haas and he continues to do that with a competent teammate in Kevin Magnussen. The German held off Lewis Hamilton as far as he could have in Haas and then held on for another point. The American team would be happy to be the one team that benefitted from the Stroll DNF.
Loser
Lewis Hamilton
The F1 Chinese GP more often than not has been a race Lewis Hamilton has excelled at. This weekend, after the sprint, it's hard to say that Lewis will leave the weekend happy in any way.
If you're spending the race complaining on the team radio that the other car is fast while your teammate is fighting the likes of McLaren in the top 10, it's not a good look. Lewis took the blame on himself for playing with the setup but the compromised race was a result of the mistake he made in the F1 Chinese GP qualifying lap than the setup. A weekend to forget for Lewis as he tries to strike form again with the Mercedes.
