Antonelli Claims First F1 Victory as Hamilton Reaches Ferrari Podium

Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes secured his maiden Formula 1 Grand Prix victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton celebrated his first podium finish with Ferrari after a thrilling battle with teammate Charles Leclerc. Antonelli’s win makes him the second-youngest race winner in F1 history, at 19 years and 202 days old, trailing only Max Verstappen (18 years, 228 days).

Race Results and Championship Standings

George Russell finished second, completing a one-two finish for Mercedes, but Antonelli’s victory narrows Russell’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship to just four points. The top four drivers finished in the same order they started the race, though the competition was far from simple.

“I’m speechless. I’m about to cry to be honest. Thank you so much to my team. They helped me to achieve this dream,” said Antonelli, who is the first Italian race-winner since Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006. “We are just at the beginning, we keep pushing. George is an incredible driver, very strong on all aspects, so it’s going to take a lot to beat him.”

Podium Battle and Ferrari’s Performance

Lewis Hamilton finished third, marking his first podium appearance since November 2024 and his debut podium with Ferrari. The race featured a captivating duel between Hamilton and Leclerc, with the Ferrari drivers strategically utilizing their electrical deployment for extra power. Hamilton ultimately prevailed, demonstrating strong tire management and securing the third position.

“I had so much fun. We had a great start. I wasn’t able to keep these guys behind, but to stay in the fight, it was one of the most enjoyable races that I’ve had in a long, long time, if ever,” said Hamilton. “The fact that the cars are the way they are this year… that battle with Charles at the finish was awesome. Great wheel-to-wheel battle, very fair, and just what we want. We’ve got to keep pushing.”

Challenges and Retirements

The race wasn’t without its drama. Before the start, both McLaren drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were forced to retire due to power unit issues. Verstappen also experienced a retirement with 10 laps remaining due to an electrical problem. Both Aston Martin cars also failed to finish, resulting in only 15 cars completing the race.

Mid-Field Battles and Notable Performances

Oliver Bearman of Haas finished fifth after a competitive battle with teammate Esteban Ocon, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, and Pierre Gasly, who finished sixth. Liam Lawson of Racing Bulls secured seventh place, while Isack Hadjar of Red Bull recovered to eighth after an early spin. Carlos Sainz of Williams finished ninth, earning his first points of the 2026 season, and Franco Colapinto of Alpine rounded out the top ten.

Chinese Grand Prix – Top 10 Results

• 1) Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes – 1:33:15.607
• 2) George Russell, Mercedes – +5.515
• 3) Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari – +25.267
• 4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – +28.894
• 5) Oliver Bearman, Haas – +57.268
• 6) Pierre Gasly, Alpine – +59.647
• 7) Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls – +80.588
• 8) Isack Hadjar, Red Bull – +87.247
• 9) Carlos Sainz, Williams – +1 lap
• 10) Franco Colapinto, Alpine – +1 lap

Looking Ahead

Formula 1 now moves to the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix, scheduled for March 27-29, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.