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(Adnkronos) –
Max Verstappen wins the Chinese GP, fifth round of the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship. Ferrari off the podium in Shanghai. The Dutch Red Bull driver, winner of the Sprint yesterday and starting from pole position today, dominates the race, achieving his fourth victory of the season and the 58th of his career. The world champion triumphed ahead of the McLaren of Briton Lando Norris and the Red Bull of Mexican Sergio Perez. Ferrari had to settle for fourth place with Charles Leclerc, who finished ahead of his teammate Carlos Sainz.
The Monegasque is unable to defend the third position achieved halfway through the race, the one-stop strategy does not allow the red to maintain a competitive pace in the final phase of the GP. Behind Sainz, sixth place for George Russell’s Mercedes preceding Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin and the other McLaren of Oscar Piastri. Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes finished the race in ninth position while Nico Hulkenberg closed the top ten with Haas.
Lap 56 – Verstappen triumphs, Norris and Perez on the podium. Ferrari fourth with Leclerc and fifth with Sainz.
Lap 52 – Verstappen leads with a 12” lead over Norris, the world champion strolls towards the checkered flag.
Lap 48 – The public tries to get excited about some overtaking in the rear, practically nothing happens up front: the leaders proceed in a defined train.
Lap 45 – The situation at the top seems to have crystallized. Verstappen dominates, Norris has about 5” advantage over Perez. Leclerc is 2” from third place but is unable to close the gap.
Lap 42 – Verstappen flies, the margin over Norris expands and reaches 8”.
Lap 39 – Perez attacks Leclerc and passes. The Mexican’s Red Bull snatches third place from the Monegasque driver’s Ferrari, who is unable to keep up.
Lap 38 – Verstappen extends his lead over Norris to almost 4”.
Lap 36 – Perez approaches Leclerc and threatens Ferrari’s third place.
Lap 34 – Verstappen accelerates, the Red Bull’s pace is unsustainable for the pursuers. Norris slips to over 2”, Leclerc is almost 4”5.
Lap 31 – The safety car leaves the track, the GP restarts: Verstappen in the lead, then Norris and Leclerc.
Lap 27 – The safety car leaves the scene but must immediately return to the track: Stroll’s Aston Martin violently hits Ricciardo’s RB, the race is frozen again.
Lap 24 – Removing Bottas’ car is a complicated operation, the real safety car must intervene.
Lap 23 – After the tire change, the Monegasque’s Ferrari is fifth.
Lap 22 – The virtual safety car comes into play, Leclerc returns to the pits for a stop.
Lap 20 – Bottas’ Kick-Sauber stops on the track due to an engine problem.
Lap 19 – Verstappen also overtakes Norris’ McLaren and retakes first position.
Lap 16 – With fresh tyres, the world champion’s Red Bull overtakes Leclerc’s Ferrari.
Lap 14 – Verstappen stops in the pits to change tires.
Lap 12 – The first pit stops allow the Ferraris of Leclerc and Sainz to move up to fourth and fifth position.
Lap 9 – Leclerc attacks Russell and overtakes the Mercedes to take sixth place.
Lap 6 – Verstappen has a lead of over 5” over Perez.
Lap 5 – Perez takes second position, there are 2 Red Bulls in the lead.
Lap 2 – The world champion’s Red Bull already has over 2” on Alonso’s Aston Martin.
Lap 1 – Verstappen starts from pole position, the Ferraris start in seventh and eighth position. —[email protected] (Web Info)
