China disaster: Italy reacts

The 2025 Formula One season continued to deliver shocks, elation and heartbreak as it rolled into Shanghai for the second round of the championship. What began as a seemingly straightforward race turned into a whirlwind of controversy, joy and dismay. McLaren cemented their early season dominance with another emphatic one-two finish, while Ferrari were plunged into crisis after both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were disqualified after the race – a rare and painful double setback that left the Scuderia without a single point from the weekend.

The post-race headlines from around the world painted a vivid picture: a scene of jubilation in the orange camp in Woking, while Maranello was left reeling. The word that rang out loudest in the aftermath was “disaster”, and it came not just from the fans, but from seasoned motorsport journalists across Europe.

 

 

Italy reacts with outrage and despair

If there’s one country where the pain of Ferrari’s misfortune has been felt most keenly, it’s Italy. The national press did not mince its words, describing the Chinese Grand Prix as a disaster of historic proportions.

“La Stampa was particularly scathing in its summary, calling it a “Chinese ordeal” and comparing it unfavourably to the debacle in Australia a week earlier. The disqualification of the two Ferrari drivers was “a catastrophe” and the start to the season “could not have been worse” for the Maranello team.

The “Gazzetta dello Sport” echoed this sentiment with even more dramatic language, describing the situation as a “scandal”. Their commentary focused not only on the penalty, but also on Ferrari’s lack of competitiveness: “After a disappointing performance in Shanghai, where Maranello failed to respond to McLaren’s dominance, the FIA has punished the Ferrari drivers with a double disqualification that couldn’t be more painful”.

The disappointment was matched by surprise in Tuttosport, which pointed out the unprecedented nature of the decision: “It’s the first time in history that two of the Scuderia’s cars have been disqualified”. The headline was clear: Ferrari had been dealt a brutal blow, both sporting and symbolic.

“Il Messaggero” emphasised the impact on the standings: “A heavy blow for Ferrari. Maranello loses all the points it scored in China. The start to the season couldn’t be any worse”.

Meanwhile, the Corriere della Sera turned its attention to the winners, noting the calm and composed demeanour of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri as he celebrated what they called the most important victory of his career. They described him with a touch of poetry: “With the expression of someone who has just emerged from an hour-long traffic jam on Shanghai’s ring road, Oscar Piastri celebrates his third victory”. McLaren’s one-two finish, they noted, was proof of their “clear superiority”.

 

 

 

British press hails McLaren’s statement victory

In the UK, the story was understandably jubilant. The British press revelled in McLaren’s triumph, especially the emerging dominance of Oscar Piastri, who started from pole and controlled the race from lights to flag.

The Daily Mail described the result as a “papaya party in Shanghai”, referring to McLaren’s bright orange livery. They were quick to draw wider conclusions, saying: “We knew their car was good this year, but more than that, it’s simply dominant. We’ve only done two races, but it looks like we already know who’s going to win the Constructors’ Championship.

“The Sun couldn’t resist a headline pun: “The Oscar goes to Piastri”. They highlighted the utter dominance shown in the race, with McLaren taking the top two steps of the podium ahead of George Russell’s Mercedes in third and Max Verstappen in fourth. The message, they wrote, was loud and clear – McLaren had arrived and they weren’t leaving any time soon.

“The Guardian focused on Piastri’s individual performance, calling it a “dominant drive from pole position”. They described the Australian’s victory as another clear demonstration that McLaren’s machinery is “incredibly fast” this year.

 

 

 

Netherlands ponder Verstappen’s slip

The Dutch press, accustomed to covering Verstappen’s seemingly endless streak of success, found themselves in the unfamiliar position of writing about a podium without their hero. For the fourth time in seven races, Max Verstappen was absent from the podium and the mood in the Netherlands was reflective.

“AD” pointed to an emerging trend, noting that this wasn’t an isolated stumble but part of a pattern that began at the end of last season: “Verstappen missed the podium for the fourth time in the last seven races. They acknowledged McLaren’s growing threat with concern, noting: “We have already seen the first dreaded one-two for the team world champions.”

“De Telegraaf took a more measured tone, writing: “Max Verstappen beats Ferrari, but McLaren reigns supreme in China. The underlying message was that even a decent performance from Verstappen wasn’t enough to challenge McLaren’s new-found supremacy.

 

 

 

Austria notes Norris’ struggles behind Piastri

In Austria, the Kleine Zeitung turned its attention to Lando Norris, the current championship leader heading to China, who had to settle for second place behind his team-mate. While Norris picked up valuable points to maintain his championship lead, the paper noted that he “had no chance against team-mate Oscar Piastri”.

Norris, fresh from his victory in Australia, battled George Russell throughout the race and was unable to match Piastri’s pace. “The five-time Grand Prix winner often struggled in Shanghai,” the article concluded.

 

 

 

France applauds Piastri’s weekend masterclass

Across the border in France, the narrative was similarly focused on Piastri, who now has three career F1 victories to his name. “L’Équipe celebrated his flawless weekend, saying he “seemed particularly pleased after his first win of the season” and “enjoyed the whole weekend at the wheel of his McLaren”.

“Le Sud-Ouest” offered a more technical view, highlighting Piastri’s control from start to finish. “Starting from pole position, Piastri was dominant from start to finish, securing his third victory in the premier class in China,” they wrote.

 

 

 

Fallout from Ferrari disqualification

The details of the disqualifications are still being investigated, but sources close to the FIA indicate that the infractions had to do with board wear on the underside of both cars. It’s a bitter irony for Ferrari, whose recent focus has been on improving reliability and consistency – only to run afoul of the regulations in an area that often signals poor set-up management or a miscalculation of ride height.

Lewis Hamilton, in particular, now finds himself in the eye of an unexpected storm. Still adjusting to life in red, the seven-time world champion will be keen to reset and regroup before the circus rolls into Imola – Ferrari’s de facto home race. For Charles Leclerc, the disqualification only adds to an already frustrating start to the season.

 

 

 

McLaren’s resurgence now looks real

Back-to-back victories – and especially a one-two in Shanghai – are no fluke. Piastri’s composed performance, Norris’ quiet scoring and the team’s calm strategic execution point to a squad that may be ready to challenge for the full title, not just a few race wins.

The Constructors’ Championship already appears to be tilting in McLaren’s favour. Their rivals are scrambling to catch up, and the McLaren camp knows it. Early indications are that 2025 could be the year they recapture the glory last seen in the Senna-Prost era.

 

 

 

Looking ahead: Pressure mounts for Ferrari, questions for Red Bull

With Ferrari now in crisis mode, the pressure is mounting ahead of Imola. A home race in the shadow of a disqualification could either spark a defiant comeback or plunge the team further into disarray.

Red Bull, meanwhile, have been strangely quiet – neither dominant nor disastrous. Verstappen’s fourth place is respectable, but the sense of invincibility has faded. Rumours of team politics, Liam Lawson’s inauspicious start to the year and whispers of internal tension only add to the sense that Red Bull are no longer the sharpest sword on the grid.

The championship may be young, but its early tone is loud and clear. McLaren is in control. Ferrari is in turmoil. And F1 is as dramatic as ever.