After becoming Formula 1’s youngest polesitter on Saturday in Shanghai, Kimi Antonelli became the sport’s second youngest grand prix winner, beating team-mate George Russell to the flag at the Chinese Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton secured his first Ferrari podium.

There was drama ahead of the start, with a quartet of drivers bring ruled out of the race. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were sidelined by differing electrical problems on their McLaren MCL40s, while a hydraulic issue prevented Williams’ Alex Albon from taken the start and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto was forced out by an unspecified technical issue. 

When the lights went out at the start, Ferrari’s driver made a similar rapid start to the one they enjoyed in Australia and Hamilton was soon onto the lead. The Mercedes driver was just about able to keep Charles Leclerc at bay, but after lining up on the grid in fourth, Russell was demoted to fourth place on the opening lap. 

Behind the top four, Max Vesratppen suffered a second successive poor Grand Prix start and as Alpine’s Pierre Gasly slotted into P5, Verstappen was swamped by rivals and dropped to 16th. 

The Dutchman’s team-mate Isack Hadjar made a better start but after being passed by Haas’ Ollie Bearman the Frenchman spun while trying to regain his position, almost taking Bearman out in the process. Hadjar dropped to the back of the field and pitted for fresh tyres while Bearman slid to 14th and began a strong recovery that would eventually see him finish fifth. 

At the front, Antonelli was finding a comfort zone and on lap and he was soon back in the lead, passing Hamilton with a good move into Turn 14. Progress past the Ferraris was proving more difficult for Russell and though he had a ringside view of the hugely entertaining battle between the Scuderia’s drivers, Russell was initially unable to put together a meaningful attack, telling his pit wall that the red cars were “quick in all the quick in all the right places”. 

The biggest winner from the fight was Antonelli who was allowed to steadily build a gap as the trio behind lost time.  

Further back, Verstappen had clawed his way back into the points. However, stuck in 10th place behind Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad and with his soft tyres badly degrading, the Dutchman pitted. 

It was another disadvantage to his cause. Within seconds of Verstappen rejoining, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll stopped at the track apron in Turn 1 and the Safety Car was deployed. All those who had not started on Hard tyres took advantage of the cheap pit stop and Verstappen once again feel down the order. 

The flurry of pit stops again helped Antonelli. The Italian managed to pit and resume on the lead, ahead of Hard tyre starters Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon. As Antoelli powered away the Alpine and the Haas again slowed the progress of the Ferraris and Russell. 

Hamilton was the first to clear the Haas and Alpine and he got to within half a second of Antonelli, but the Italian teenager was in control and soon began to pull away from the seven-time champion.

Further back, Verstappen had clawed his way through to sixth place after the Safety Car. But then, on lap 46, the Dutchman suddenly slowed moved off the racing line. He was able to limp to the pits but was quickly forced to retire due to an ERS coolant problem. 

On track, with fresh tyres on board, Russell was in a better place and as the Ferraris again tussled the early championship leader was able to pick off both as he rose to second. The Briton attempted to reel in his team-mate but aside from a late lapse of concentration in Turn 14 a few laps from home, Antonelli was in full control and after 56 laps crossed the line five seconds ahead of Russell with Hamilton third. 

Leclerc held fourth at the flag ahead of the impressive Bearman, with Pierre Gasly taking a strong fifth place for Alpine ahead of Racing Bulls’ driver Liam Lawson. Hadjar recovered from his early woes to haul his way back to P8 at the flag, ahead of Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Colapinto. 

2026 FIA Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix – Race 
1 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 56 1:33'15.607 
2 George Russell Mercedes 56 1:33'21.122 5.515
3 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 56 1:33'40.874 25.267
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 56 1:33'44.501 28.894
5 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 56 1:34'12.875 57.268
6 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Mercedes 56 1:34'15.254 59.647
7 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 56 1:34'36.195 1'20.588
8 Isack Hadjar Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 56 1:34'42.854 1'27.247
9 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 55 1:33'27.280 1 lap /11.673
10 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Mercedes 55 1:33'28.010 1 lap /12.403
11 Nico Hülkenberg Audi 55 1:33'36.716 1 lap /21.109
12 Arvid Lindblad Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford 55 1:33'38.435 1 lap /22.828
13 Valtteri Bottas Cadillac/Ferrari 55 1:34'11.765 1 lap /56.158
14 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 55 1:34'21.863 1 lap /1'06.256
15 Sergio Pérez Cadillac/Ferrari 55 1:34'30.248 1 lap /1'14.641
     Max Verstappen Red Bull/Red Bull Ford 45 1:17'26.297 Retirement
     Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Honda 32 56'39.583 Retirement
     Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Honda 9 15'19.929 Retirement
     Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 0 - Not started
     Gabriel Bortoleto Audi 0 - Not started
     Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 0 - Not started
     Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 0 - Not started