Vettel’s Puncture Hands Norris Victory, Championship Will Be Decided in China

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Q1	Q2	Diff.
1	88	Robert Kubica		1:42.667	1:42.072
2	39	Sho Tsuboi		1:42.738	1:42.946	+0.666
3	18	Sebastian Vettel		1:43.208	1:43.065	+0.993
4	47	Lando Norris		1:43.581	1:43.394	+1.322
5	23	Jules Bianchi		1:44.365	1:43.785	+1.713
6	20	Kevin Magnussen		1:43.903	1:43.857	+1.785
7	56	Einar Ármannsson		1:44.229	1:44.149	+2.077
8	94	Pascal Wehrlein		1:44.335	1:44.179	+2.107
9	63	George Russell		1:44.774	1:44.386	+2.314
10	7	Charles Leclerc		1:44.548	1:44.578	+2.476
11	1	Victoria Desai		1:45.287	1:44.742	+2.670
12	57	Dean Stoneman		1:45.744	1:44.984	+2.912
13	10	Alessio Lorandi		1:45.391	1:45.099	+3.027
14	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		1:45.255	1:45.577	+3.153
20	4	Robin Frijns		1:45.699	1:45.258	+3.186
15	60	Ritomo Miyata		1:45.699	1:45.496	+3.424
17	26	Robert Shwartzman		1:45.710	1:45.964	+3.638
13	70	Pastor Maldonado		1:46.337	1:45.774	+3.702
16	29	Roger Ibe		1:46.505	1:46.296	+4.224
18	33	Max Verstappen		1:46.896	1:46.660	+4.588
21	81	Malik Zidan		1:47.619	1:46.854	+4.782
22	95	Beitske Visser		1:47.619	1:47.318	+5.246
23	80	Raven Roth		1:48.693	1:48.290	+6.218
24	98	Colton Herta		1:49.603	1:48.496	+6.424
25	11	Terry Hawkin		1:49.853	1:49.700	+7.628
26	21	Théo Pourchaire		1:52.117	1:50.131	+8.059

Report:

Very few people would blame motorsport fans for expecting Sebastian Vettel to clinch his third world’s title after he had taken the lead early in the race. Lando Norris was slightly quicker, but not enough to stop him.

However, fate had a cruel twist in store for the German veteran: in the fifth race-ending Bridgestone puncture in the last three Grands Prix, Vettel was left stranding out on the track and Norris inherited the win.

Behind him, the battle for P2 for the championship got tight. A second-place finish for Einar Ármannsson and a late enforced pitstop for Kubica leaves MRT and ROOKIE Racing seperated by a single point.

Outside of the points, Max Verstappen retired with a major motor failure. This was the Dutchman’s first retirement in 2023. With this, only Beitske Visser and Robert Shwartzman have been classified in all races.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Grid	Points
1	47	Lando Norris		57:47.859	4	10
2	56	Einar Ármannsson		+37.543	7	8
3	39	Sho Tsuboi		+60.092	2	6
4	10	Alessio Lorandi		+63.168	13	5
5	88	Robert Kubica		+65.476	1	5
6	20	Kevin Magnussen		+90.254	6	3
7	1	Victoria Desai		+90.855	11	2
8	94	Pascal Wehrlein		+110.683	8	1
9	26	Robert Shwartzman		1 Lap	17
10	70	Pastor Maldonado		1 Lap	18
11	7	Charles Leclerc		1 Lap	10
12	81	Malik Zidan		1 Lap	21
13	60	Ritomo Miyata		1 Lap	16
14	4	Robin Frijns		1 Lap	15
15	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		1 Lap	14
16	95	Beitske Visser		1 Lap	22
17	57	Dean Stoneman		1 Lap	12
18	98	Colton Herta		1 Lap	24
19	80	Raven Roth		1 Lap	23
DNF	18	Sebastian Vettel		Puncture	3
DNF	23	Jules Bianchi		Motor	5
DNF	63	George Russell		Puncture	9
DNF	29	Roger Ibe		Collision	19
DNF	33	Max Verstappen		Motor	20
DNF	11	Terry Hawkin		Transmission	25
DNF	21	Théo Pourchaire		Suspension	26

Fastest Lap:

Sebastian Vettel – 1:43.022

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

Alessio Lorandi – surpassing his outing a week ago, he achieved the joint-best result for Ferrari.

Reject Of The Race:

McEwan-Mercedes – technical issues on both cars left them stranding in a race where there was opportunity.