Chinese Grand Prix Delivers Drama: McLaren Celebrates 1-2 Finish as Ferrari Faces Disqualification Heartbreak

Last year, Formula 1 brought back the iconic Chinese Grand Prix. While it originally joined the series calendar in 2004, its place in F1 history was cemented when seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher secured his 91st and final victory of his historic career. Since then, the Chinese Grand Prix has had several winners, including F1 world champions Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg, and Fernando Alonso. However, in 2020 and the following three years, the races were announced and later canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In 2024, the Grand Prix made its return, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen leading the grid to the finish line. Known for its unpredictable weather, high-degradation track, and wheel-to-wheel action, the race featured two full safety car periods and the DNFs (did not finish) of three drivers. 

This year’s race was expected to be no different. With the season already underway, every race becomes a crucial battleground in the fight for the championship, making the Chinese Grand Prix a key event for teams. This year, the title battle has centered around Ferrari and McLaren—a rivalry that has spanned decades, been steeped in controversy, and delivered some of the sport’s most unforgettable moments. While both teams struggled to be in the title fight in recent years due to Red Bull’s dominance, they have now closed the gap and are competing fiercely every race weekend for podiums and points. 

Niyumi’s Perspective – Ferrari Fan 

Within the Formula 1 community, it is well known that Ferrari fans (the tifosi) are overly passionate, often having a dramatic outlook on every race. From personal experience, I can say that when the team’s strategy decisions come into play, a fan’s emotions during a race feel like a rollercoaster with no end in sight. 

Prior to the race weekend, Ferrari fans felt hopeful about the team’s upcoming performance. While Australia didn’t bring the ideal outcome, the team was able to minimize casualties and still take-home points for the championship. However, McLaren secured a victory at the same event, making very few strategic mistakes and maintaining consistent race pace over 58 laps. 

During the sprint race, things seemed to be looking up for Ferrari. Not only did the team’s new addition, Lewis Hamilton, take pole position, but he also claimed first place at the finish line. 

At the race start, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had clean launches, both getting ahead of Max Verstappen in the first few turns. Throughout the race, Leclerc had the better pace, yet both Ferrari drivers were eventually overtaken by Verstappen. During their pit stops, Ferrari’s crew was relatively on time and efficient, both in the speed of the wheel changes and in executing the pit stop window strategy. 

By the end of the race, while McLaren secured a 1-2 finish, the two Ferraris followed closely behind, with Leclerc finishing 6th and Hamilton 7th, earning the team fewer than 15 points. Not an ideal result, to say the least—but knowing that China was not Ferrari’s best track, fans were willing to take what they could get. And then, all hope fell apart. 

In less than 24 hours, Ferrari went from gaining 14 points to having none. After post-race scrutineering, it was announced that Leclerc’s car was underweight by 1kg, and Hamilton’s skid plate wear was just 0.5mm below the required limit. While such a small difference may seem undeserving of such a harsh punishment, Formula 1 is all about the tiny details, so both Ferrari cars were disqualified from the race. 

As expected, tifosi around the world, myself included, mourned for the Scarlet Red. Across social media, fans shared their disappointment, proclaiming “Next year is ours!”, even though we’re only two races into a 24-race season. While some have hope for Japan, Ferrari fans wait anxiously to see their team’s chances of performing well, as they sit in a disappointing 5th place in the Constructors’ Championship. 

Tanner’s Perspective – McLaren Fan 

As a McLaren fan, this is the best outcome that could have happened. McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finished first and second place, respectively, and took a combined 43 points for the McLaren team. This outcome furthered their constructor’s championship lead and Norris’ driver championship lead. This is a huge change from the McLaren car from just a few years ago, which was one of the mid-field contenders. The new MCL39 changed McLaren and moved them to the front of the field.  

Piastri had a stellar race as he qualified on pole position and held onto it for most of the race. Norris had brake issues at the end of the race and was able to hold off Mercedes driver George Russell. Russell only finished about a second behind Norris, which in F1, is not that much time. 

Over the past few years, Norris gained popularity in F1 and many of his fans are wanting him to win the Constructors Championship, which is the highest honor for a racing driver. If Norris wins the Constructors Championship, that means he will be one of the only drivers that won his first race the season before he won a Constructor’s Championship  

For many McLaren fans this was one of the best performances from the two drivers. This first-second place finish marked the 50^th 1-2 finish for the McLaren team since their establishment in 1963.