Reigning F1 champion Verstappen wins Chinese GP

By Selcuk Bugra Gokalp

The reigning Formula One champion, Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen, won round 5 in the 2024 Formula One World Championship, the Chinese Grand Prix, on Sunday.

The Dutch driver, who also got the pole position, finished the 56-lap-race in 1 hour 40 minutes and 52.554 seconds at Shanghai International Circuit.

"It felt amazing,” said Verstappen.

"All weekend I think we were incredibly quick. It was just enjoyable to drive every single (tire) compound as well. (At the) restarts I think we survived that well. The car was basically on rails, I could do whatever I wanted to with it, and those kinds of weekends are of course amazing to feel. Then, to achieve what we did this weekend is fantastic."

McLaren's Lando Norris finished second with +13.773 seconds and Verstappen's teammate Sergio Perez finished the race third with +19.160 seconds.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso got an additional point for setting the fastest lap of the race, while Williams' Logan Sargeant got a 10-second penalty for a Safety Car infringement, as did Haas' Kevin Magnussen for causing a collision.

Verstappen tops the driver standings with 110 points, followed by Perez with 85 points and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc with 76.

The constructor standings are led by Red Bull Racing with 195 points, followed by Ferrari with 151 points and McLaren with 96 points.

Round 6, the Miami GP, will be held at Miami International Autodrome in Miami in the US state of Florida on May 5.