The China Mail - Dominant Verstappen wins Chinese Grand Prix to increase title grip

The three-time world champion controlled the race on its return to the Shanghai International Circuit for the first time since 2019.

He finished 13.7 seconds ahead of McLaren's Lando Norris with Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez third, a further six seconds back.

He was denied a 100 percent points-scoring weekend when Fernando Alonso picked up the bonus for the fastest lap after a late switch to fresh tyres.

It was another all-conquering display from Verstappen, who won his fourth grand prix this season and the 58th of his career.

He increased his lead over Perez at the top of the drivers championship to 25 points with Red Bull pulling 44 points clear of Ferrari in the constructors standings.

Only a rare brake failure and retirement in Melbourne denied Verstappen the chance of a clean sweep of all five rounds in 2024 as he marches towards a fourth consecutive world title.

"It felt amazing. The whole weekend we were incredibly quick. Just enjoyable to drive on every compound," said Verstappen, who took his first victory in China.

"We survived the restarts well and the car was basically on rails and I could do whatever I wanted with it.

"Those kind of weekends are amazing to feel and to achieve what we did this weekend is fantastic."

The Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were fourth and fifth.

Race strategy was largely decided by a safety car on lap 23, which enabled most cars to switch to hard tyres till the end.

George Russell came sixth for Mercedes with Alonso finishing seventh.

The Spanish veteran, 42, made a spectacular late charge through the field from 12th after his final stop on lap 43 of the 56-lap race.

- Unexpected podium -

McLaren's Oscar Piastri was eighth, chased home by Lewis Hamilton who clawed his way up to ninth from 18th on the grid.

The points-scorers were rounded out by Nico Hulkenberg in 10th for Haas.

Norris was delighted to finish second, his best result in 2024, having started from fourth on the grid.

"Surprised, I'm very happy. Today it just worked out," said the Englishman.

"Things came alive today. I don't know why, it was not the race I was expecting, but just got comfortable."

Perez finished on the podium for the fourth time in five rounds this season.

Alonso swooped past him at the start but the Mexican fought back to second within five laps and had been eyeing a second consecutive Red Bull one-two until the safety car set him back.

"It really cost us quite a bit. Fighting like that in the early laps, the life of the tyre goes off dramatically," said Perez.

"But at least we got onto the podium. But it would have been good to be one and two. We were definitely lacking some pace."

China's first Formula One driver Zhou Guanyu was an enormous draw over the weekend as he made his home grand prix debut.

He was allowed to park his car on the grid in front the grandstands after finishing 14th in the race and exited the cockpit in floods of tears to an ovation from the capacity crowd.

"I drove my heart out today, unfortunately not enough for the points but we go again next time," said an emotional Zhou.

"I am just so happy to see the whole crowd. No words. A mixture of emotions and a day to remember. Hopefully in the future more drivers from my country will be stepping in here."

A.Sun--ThChM