A few days after a cracker of an opening race of the season in Melbourne, the Formula 1 paddock reconvened 8,050km north in Shanghai for round two – and the anticipation for what could be the sport’s closest-ever season showed no signs of dissipating.
Are McLaren the ones to beat again?
You’d struggle to find someone in the Shanghai paddock who didn’t put McLaren as favourites for back-to-back wins, so convincing was their pace in both dry and wet conditions in Australia.

Unlock exclusive F1 content and more with F1 Unlocked. Totally free.
Membership gets you closer with:
Curated insider content
Live like an F1 insider with exclusive access and VIP experiences
Member benefits, rewards and offers
Next Up
Related Articles
Antonelli ‘not really worried’ amid Mercedes contract reports
FIA Team Principals press conference – Great Britain
Lindblad reflects on ‘amazing’ FP1 debut with Red Bull
AS IT HAPPENED: Second practice for the British GP
British GP would be 'special place' to get Ferrari podium – Hamilton
Russell admits Mercedes ‘not close’ to frontrunners at Silverstone