After a dramatic start to the 2025 Formula 1 season, the circus rolls-up in Shanghai for Round 2, and Motorsport Week discusses all the big talking points ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
After Round 1’s hugely eventful series of events, F1’s pre-season promise of 2025 being a year of constant excitement and drama seems to be coming true, and with China now days away, there seems to be little chance of this changing.
‘Mini-DRS’ loophole suspicions sees further FIA clampdowns
The ‘mini-DRS’ saga has continued to rumble on, despite the FIA imposing stricter measures on flexi-wings in the off-season.
Following further alarms being raised that some teams are continuing to benefit from the slots within the wings, the sport’s governing body has concluded that all 10 teams must prepare their rear wings to flex at a limit of 0.5mm, with a tolerance of 0.25mm added due to the short notice given.
McLaren has been the team that has previously benefitted the most from exploiting the apparent loophole since last year, which begs the question: will the Woking squad see its advantage reduced from this weekend onwards?
Lando Norris seems to disagree, who said, when asked about how the team is responding to the directives: “We don’t have to change anything.
“Ours is fine. In fact, ours was probably too good.”
Can Piastri bounce back against Norris?
Oscar Piastri looked on course for at least a podium finish at his home Grand Prix, but on Lap 44, he squandered the opportunity with a spin that sent him to the back, recovering to finish in ninth.
Piastri’s strong 2024 showing has seen him afforded the same respect his more-established team-mate has been given in regards to his chances in 2025, but with Norris now carrying a 23-point advantage already, Piastri will need to bounce back immediately.
The Aussie has yet to appear in any way a shrinking violet, nor someone lacking any confidence in his own ability, so it is doubtful that he will be greatly affected by his Melbourne misdemeanour, which, in fairness, did claim many other drivers.
If McLaren are able to enjoy a pace advantage over its rivals, Piastri will be in a prime position to get his campaign back on track.
Was Ferrari’s Australia struggle an anomaly?
After appearing to be the second-fastest package upon arrival in Australia, and even during the free practice sessions, Ferrari’s promise seemed to fall off a cliff from qualifying onwards at Albert Park.
The race did not fare much better, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton labouring to eighth and 10th place respectively.
A Groundhog Day-style strategic shambles once again put paid to any chances of the team making any sort of recovery.
Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished in the points last year in Shanghai, and will hope to at least be able to overhaul Red Bull and get itself closer to McLaren.
Leclerc is doubtlessly more settled, and as long as he has the car with the pace to compete, he will do so, particularly over one lap, but Hamilton’s sluggish start may provide some cause for concern.
Despite downplaying his underwhelming weekend in Melbourne, Hamilton still needs to imbed himself into the team, given the disconnect between himself and new engineer Riccardo Adami that appeared to play out over team radio during the race.
Both drivers are of such a high standard that ought to be relied-upon to deliver if the car is fast, but the team as a whole will need to be on top of its game to kickstart its championship.
Were Ferrari’s and Haas’ problems intertwined?
Haas’ 2025 begun with optimism, given it had reached the cost cap for the first time and boasting a younger and exciting line-up of Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman.
But once cars were out on track, the weekend was hugely depressing, and perhaps its worst since the tenure of Ayao Komatsu as Team Principal.
One of the significant issues the team suffered in Melbourne was with the balance of the car, particularly in the rear, the bulk of which is predominantly Ferrari-built.
Given that Ferrari had its own pace issues from qualifying, were both teams’ shared gearbox and diffuser package the cause of their respective issues?
Can the midfield create further shocks?
One of the stories of last weekend was the surprises caused by two of the midfield teams, particularly in qualifying.
Williams and Racing Bulls caused a sensation, with Yuki Tsunoda the highest-placed driver in fifth.
Alex Albon was sixth, with Carlos Sainz tenth, with the second Racing Bulls of Isack Hadjar narrowly missing-out on Q3 in his first qualifying outing as an F1 driver.
And in the race, both teams mixed it with the ‘big boys’, with Albon finishing fifth, with Tsunoda driving exceptionally all race but a poor strategy cost him, leaving him out of the points.
Williams were already confident of being able to mix it in the middle of the pack, and certainly seemed to justify that confidence, and Racing Bulls’ pace was more of a surprise, given the inconclusive nature of its pace in pre-season testing.
If both teams can produce a similar result in China, it may be just a little more than a one-off.
READ MORE: Charles Leclerc: Ferrari’s unlocked 2025 potential not enough to rival McLaren yet
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