Chinese GP debriefing

THE GOOD

As already mentioned, Mercedes is flying high. It has confirmed itself as the team to beat. The W16 has demonstrated overwhelming superiority, particularly in terms of aerodynamic efficiency and energy management – a key factor under the new regulations. The engine’s power and its balance over long distances allowed Antonelli and Russell to manage their lead with ease.
Antonelli was the star of the show. He started, managed the race and secured victory with the maturity of a veteran, rightfully going down in history as the second-youngest ever and the first Italian in 20 years.
George Russell confirmed his excellent form with a solid second place, limiting the damage after experiencing some electrical issues in qualifying. He is currently the championship leader.
The only slight blip was the electrical issue Russell experienced in Q3, which was promptly resolved. The mission now is to maintain this level of competitiveness and reliability.

Ferrari is there, but it’s a long way from challenging the Silver Arrows for victory. The SF-26 has proven itself to be a great ‘sprinter’: Hamilton and Leclerc’s starts were lightning-fast, putting both Ferraris in the lead going into the first corner. Cornering speed is excellent and the gap in lap times has narrowed, dropping from 0.8 seconds in Australia to 0.35 seconds in China. The drivers have been battling each other more than the others. It’s great, it’s proper racing, just the way we like it.
The Achilles heel remains straight-line power. As Hamilton said: “You feel the thirst for power when you’re behind them”. A limitation that Maranello will have to work hard on.

For Haas, the excellent start to the season has been confirmed. There was almost a sense that the results achieved in Australia had been down to luck. That is not the case; the car is just as solid as the team behind it.
Compared to 2025, when they were often forced to hit the ‘reset button’ after every away race to correct balance issues, this year the situation is radically different.
"The car’s base has enormous potential in terms of balance", said Ocon. The real test will be the ability to maintain this level of competitiveness consistently, avoiding the dips in performance that have characterised the team in the past.
Bearman’s outstanding performance is worth highlighting. On the eve of the race, he said: “I have no doubt that if we stick together as a team, we will prove once again why we deserve to be fighting at the front of the midfield". A prophet.

What happened at Alpine was also incredible. Gasly in sixth and Colapinto in tenth (his first F1 point) drove an attacking race. If someone had told us that on Thursday, we would never have believed it. Nothing but praise for them.
The figures tell the story of a team clearly on the up. Ahead of the race, the Argentine had explained the difficulties of adapting: “We’re racing well and putting in a lot of effort. In terms of performance, we’re not where we’d like to be, but we’re working on it with the team”. The team led by Flavio Briatore must now prove it can maintain this level of competitiveness consistently, overcoming the inconsistency that has characterised it in recent years.

THE BAD

Racing Bull has been almost more competitive than Red Bull. The paradox is clear: Red Bull’s power unit (produced in collaboration with Ford) isn’t perfect, but with the same components, Racing Bull manages to consistently compete in the midfield, whilst the main team struggles. The difference, according to analysts, lies in the quality of the chassis and the aerodynamic setup. The problem is that Red Bull must not be fighting for points, but for victory.
Congratulations to Lawson, who confirms he is in great form. A few too many mistakes from Lindblad. The determination is there, but perhaps there is too much of it. More composure is needed.

What can be said about Red Bull? Max Verstappen retired on lap 47 due to an electrical fault, following a weekend in which he had never made a secret of the difficulties he faced with a car that were “unmanageable”. Battery and energy management issues appear to be chronic. Verstappen described driving the car as “more a matter of battery management than pure driving”. A major wake-up call for the team.
There is, however, a positive note: rookie Isack Hadjar scored a point (8th), keeping spirits high in the pits.

It has been a difficult weekend for Audi. Following the impressive result in Melbourne, where Bortoleto scored points, the Chinese Grand Prix proved to be a lacklustre affair for both drivers, although Hülkenberg finished in eleventh place, just outside the points. Ahead of the race, team principal Jonathan Wheatley had been cautious: “Starting the season with points in Melbourne is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved. This weekend, however, has served as a brutal reminder of the road ahead". Despite the disappointing result, insiders recognise that Audi has enormous potential. The German manufacturer has developed an engine from scratch, with no existing foundations, yet it is already competitive and reliable. More so than other, far more experienced engine manufacturers. When Audi sets its mind to doing something, it does it well. Always.

THE UGLY

The nightmare continues for Aston Martin. It’s incredible how badly they’ve botched the car. Lance Stroll retired due to a battery failure (Honda), a recurring problem. Fernando Alonso had to pull his car over because of “unbearable vibrations”. The images of him stretching his hands – likely seized by cramps – are striking. Newey himself had stated that the car vibrated so much that it risked causing ‘permanent nerve damage’ to the drivers’ hands. A situation bordering on the physically unbearable.
An extremely difficult situation.

For Williams, it’s been a season opener to forget. Expectations were high following the progress made in 2025, but the FW48 is proving to be uncompetitive.
“Honestly, I think we might be a bit further off the pace here. This type of circuit doesn’t really suit us. Looking back at last year, we were quite strong in Melbourne, but in China we were off the pace”. These were Albon’s words on the eve of the race. He was spot on. He didn’t get off to a good start at all, while Sainz struggled but at least took home two points. The Shanghai circuit, with its long, high-speed corners, highlights cars that suffer from understeer – a problem plaguing Williams. Furthermore, adapting to the Mercedes power unit still takes time.
Sainz has asked for patience: “In the very short term, over the next two races, there won’t be any major changes; our performance won’t vary. Let’s say that in the second quarter of the season we hope to start seeing progress”.

Cadillac is way off the pace. Not quite as far behind as Aston Martin, because at least they’re finishing the races, but they’re not far off. Sergio Pérez had to contend with a critical fuel pump failure that prevented him from taking part in the Sprint qualifying session. On top of that, there were issues with power delivery and a lack of drive. The team’s inexperience and the complexity of the new 2026 regulations are taking their toll. For Cadillac, the primary objective is reliability: simply completing laps and racking up the miles will be invaluable during this learning phase.
The fact that they are at least finishing the race is very positive because it allows them to gather a wealth of data. Keep your chin up, it’s a long haul.

McLaren = Disaster (to be read in Sanchini’s voice).
Both cars were forced to retire due to electrical issues with the Mercedes power unit, albeit of a different nature. Norris didn’t even manage to leave the garage, whilst Piastri was withdrawn from the grid just minutes before the start. If Mercedes’ one-two finish is one to remember, the same goes for McLaren – but in a negative sense. A lesson to learn so as not to repeat the same mistakes.
Team principal Andrea Stella described it as a “disappointing and frustrating day”. A joint investigation has been launched with Mercedes to understand the causes and prevent a recurrence.