Kimi Antonelli won his maiden grand prix as Lewis Hamilton claimed his first Ferrari podium after a thrilling battle for the podium with Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc in China.
Antonelli dominated most of the race to become the second youngest race-winner in F1 history at 19 years and 202 days – only Max Verstappen was younger at 18 years and 202 days.
George Russell finished second to make it two Mercedes one-twos to start the new F1 season but sees his early Drivers’ Championship lead cut to three points from Antonelli.
“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.”
Russell was involved in an exciting fight for the podium positions with Hamilton and Leclerc throughout the race, where F1’s new racing tactics and energy deployment modes delivered plenty of drama.
The Ferrari pair came close to contact on several occasions but just avoided a collision as Hamilton came out on top to take his first podium since November 2024.
There was drama even before the lights went out when the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri failed to start due to power unit-related issues.
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Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri discuss what happened after both McLarens failed to start the Chinese Grand Prix due to power unit-related issues
Piastri is yet to complete a Grand Prix racing lap, having crashed out of his home event in Australia last week, while Norris suffered his first DNS of his F1 career. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Williams’ Alex Albon also failed to take the start.
Max Verstappen was running in sixth until an electrical problem caused him to retire with 10 laps to go and both Aston Martins also retired with only 15 cars finishing the Chinese Grand Prix.
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Max Verstappen retires from the Chinese GP after electrical failure in his Red Bull
Haas’ Oliver Bearman finished fifth following a feisty mid-race battle with his team-mate Esteban Ocon, plus Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, who was sixth.
Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson was seventh, Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar recovered to eighth after spinning by himself on the first lap and Williams’ Carlos Sainz held off Colapinto to take ninth and score his first points of 2026.
More to follow…
Formula 1 next heads to the iconic Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix on March 27-29 live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
