Kimi Antonelli received his maiden grand prix as Lewis Hamilton claimed his first Ferrari podium after an exciting battle for the rostrum with Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc in China.
Antonelli dominated a lot of the race to change into the second youngest race-winner in F1 historical past at 19 years and 202 days – solely Max Verstappen was youthful at 18 years and 202 days.
George Russell completed second to make it two Mercedes one-twos to start out the brand new F1 season however sees his early Drivers’ Championship lead minimize to 3 factors from Antonelli.
“I am speechless. I am about to cry to be trustworthy. Thanks a lot to my staff. They helped me to realize this dream,” stated Antonelli, who’s the primary Italian race-winner since Giancarlo Fisichella in 2006.
“We’re simply at the start, we hold pushing. George is an unbelievable driver, very sturdy on all points, so it’ll take so much to beat him.”
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Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc go head-to-head of their Ferrari’s on the Chinese language GP
Russell was concerned in an thrilling battle for the rostrum positions with Hamilton and Leclerc all through the race, the place F1’s new racing techniques and vitality deployment modes delivered loads of drama.
The Ferrari pair got here near contact on a number of events however simply averted a collision as Hamilton got here out on high to take his first podium since November 2024.
There was drama even earlier than the lights went out when the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri failed to start out resulting from energy unit-related points.
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Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri focus on what occurred after each McLarens failed to start out the Chinese language Grand Prix resulting from energy unit-related points
Piastri is but to finish a Grand Prix racing lap, having crashed out of his dwelling occasion in Australia final week, whereas Norris suffered his first DNS of his F1 profession. Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Williams’ Alex Albon additionally did not take the beginning.
Max Verstappen was operating in sixth till {an electrical} downside brought on him to retire with 10 laps to go and each Aston Martins additionally retired with solely 15 vehicles ending the Chinese language Grand Prix.
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Max Verstappen retires from the Chinese language GP after electrical failure in his Crimson Bull
Haas’ Oliver Bearman completed fifth following a feisty mid-race battle along with his team-mate Esteban Ocon, plus Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, who was sixth.
Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson was seventh, Crimson Bull’s Isack Hadjar recovered to eighth after spinning by himself on the primary lap and Williams’ Carlos Sainz held off Colapinto to take ninth and rating his first factors of 2026.
Extra to observe…
Formulation 1 subsequent heads to the long-lasting Suzuka Circuit for the Japanese Grand Prix on March 27-29 stay on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
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