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.”
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Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc go head-to-head in their Ferrari’s at the Chinese GP
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.
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.
Antonelli runs away from feisty podium fight
The top four finished where they started the Chinese Grand Prix – but the second round of the 2026 F1 season was far from straightforward.
Once again, the Ferraris got flying starts and Hamilton took full advantage by going around the outside of the Mercedes drivers as Leclerc tucked into third behind Antonelli in second.
Hamilton only led one lap though as Antonelli blasted past on the long back straight and Russell also overtook both Ferraris to restore the Mercedes one-two.
But, a Safety Car for Lance Stroll’s stricken Aston Martin gave Ferrari another opportunity to attack Russell, who had a poor restart on cold tyres after the leaders pitted for new hard tyres, losing out to both Hamilton and Leclerc.
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George Russell goes backwards as both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc overtake the Mercedes driver at the Chinese GP
Hamilton tried to catch Antonelli but was unable to put enough pressure on the teenager, who slowly pulled away. Similarly to Saturday’s Sprint, it looked like Hamilton had taken too much out of his tyres as Leclerc attacked his team-mate, with the pair trading places several times down to Turn 1 and later around the lap at Turn 14 – both drivers strategically using their electrical deployment for extra power in different ways.
The Ferrari battling meant Russell was able to first pass Hamilton at half distance on Lap 28 after the British driver lost out to his team-mate, then Russell dived down the inside of Leclerc two laps later and left the Ferraris to battle for third.
A mistake from Leclerc at the Turn 14 hairpin saw him run wide, which Hamilton pounced as the pair went side by side again through the first sector time and time again. Eventually, Hamilton got away with better tyre wear to take third and was delighted to end his wait for a first Ferrari podium.
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Kimi Antonelli claims his debut win for Mercedes as he wins the Chinese GP while Lewis Hamilton picks up his first podium for Ferrari
“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 end was awesome. Great wheel-to-wheel battle, very fair, and just what we want. We’ve got to keep pushing.
“I think there was one moment we did touch but it was subtle, just a kiss, so it’s ok. But that’s what it’s about, it’s about tough racing.”
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
