CHINA: Back with a bang...actually several

NUMBER FIVE

The Chinese Grand Prix returns, and it is EXCITING.

No constructors doing the double this week as Norris slots between the Red Bulls on the podium, taking P2. Familiar faces up at the top, but the real action is lower down the grid. 

Lots of safety car action. So, Bottas’ engine gives up on him mid-race and he abandons his Sauber on the side of the track. Initially a virtual safety car is brought in, but the shots of Bottas wandering about with cars rocketing past him suggest an actual safety car may be necessary. Safety car in, flurry of pits. Good news for the likes of Leclerc and Norris who have nursed their first set of tyres and now get a lucky free pit. Most are on hards and attempting a 1-stop strategy – finishing the race without another stop. Lap 26, safety car away, Verstappen initiates the restart and they’re off.

Immediate carnage. Magnussen goes into the back of Tsunoda who spins out. Stroll’s Aston Martin scoops up Ricciardo’s RB with its nose, sending Ricciardo momentarily airborne. Piastri, ahead, is then nudged by the RB. This results in 10-second penalties for Magnussen and Stroll, a limping Piastri, and a double retirement for RB. After another safety car, the action returns in Lap 31.

We are treated to a race full of overtakes from Hamilton and Alonso, albeit in different styles. Starting down at P18, Hamilton has a challenge on his hands. Following an unhappy stint on softs, he finds his rhythm and makes a slow and steady climb up the grid with calculated moves, finishing P9. Alonso’s race is not slow and steady. Turn 1 and he sweeps round the outside of Perez to take P2. Now at P6, he goes rogue and opts for softs during the safety car pit rush. A nifty move sees him take P5 from Sainz during the restart chaos. With 12 laps to go his soft tyres need changing, and on go the mediums. Coming out at P12 he flies up the grid, securing a sneaky extra point for fastest lap, and battles Hamilton for P8 in Lap 49. After nearly planting himself sideways in the gravel, he swiftly corrects himself and overtakes the Mercedes. Another move past Piastri and he lands himself a dramatically fought P7.

Not a bad day for Mercedes, with Russell slotting in behind the Ferraris at P6, 3 places above his teammate. Piastri isn’t quite hitting Norris’ speed but manages P8. A Ferrari P4 and P5 suggests they’re not only struggling to compete with the Red Bulls, but the McLaren too. Another P10 for Hülkenberg marks four Top 10 finishes for Haas this season – ones to watch.

Poor Ricciardo has not had the best start to the season. Frustratingly, he was nailing this one – sitting at P9 before Stroll put an end to his chances following their collision. With Bottas’s car retired, Zhou is the solo Sauber driver and puts on a display of overtakes in front of his home crowd, finishing P14. He is sandwiched by the 2 Alpines, who experience a scary moment in the pits when Gasly launches off with an unfitted tyre which takes out a mechanic.

Drama everywhere.