Max Verstappen started on pole and was the overwhelming favourite to win again, while Lewis Hamilton had plenty of work to do after qualifying only 18th for the race
Lando Norris showed his class to deny Red Bull another one-two finish in Shanghai - though he could do nothing to stop Max Verstappen 's streak.
The only threat to Verstappen at the start was his team-mate Perez, but he need not have worried. Instead of trying to get past the other Red Bull, the Mexican had Alonso to contend with and the Aston Martin racer made a brilliant start to sweep by. A bizarre but scary moment in the pit lane saw a wheel fall off Pierre Gasly's Alpine as he set off after a tyre change. It hit a mechanic and knocked them off their feet but, fortunately, appeared not to have caused any significant damage.
So, as soon as it returned to the pit lane, the safety car was back out again. Verstappen complained over the radio that it was taking too long for the race to get back under way but, as he did so, it peeled into the pit lane and the Dutchman could speed off into the distance for the third time.
Formula 1 Mercedes F1 Red Bull F1 Mclaren F1 Ferrari F1 Aston Martin F1 Alpine F1 Williams F1 Haas F1 Sauber F1 Toro Rosso F1
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