Sport|MotorsportsMercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli wins first F1 in China; Russell secondThe 19-year-old converts his pole position into a historic win to consolidate Mercedes’s hold early in the F1 season.
Kimi Antonelli secured his first Formula One Grand Prix victory at the Shanghai International Circuit in China on Sun, Mar 15, 2026. The Mercedes driver, aged 19, became the youngest pole-sitter in Formula One history and successfully converted this…
Kimi Antonelli secured his first Formula One Grand Prix victory at the Shanghai International Circuit in China on Sun, Mar 15, 2026. The Mercedes driver, aged 19, became the youngest pole-sitter in Formula One history and successfully converted this advantage into a win. Teammates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, racing for Ferrari, completed the podium finishes.
The race saw both McLaren drivers unable to start due to technical issues. Despite a challenging moment where Antonelli locked up and went wide with three laps remaining, he maintained a lead over Russell, finishing 5.515 seconds ahead.
This victory marked Mercedes's second consecutive one-two finish following Russell's win in the Australian race the previous weekend. The race also highlighted the performance of other drivers, with Charles Leclerc finishing fourth for Ferrari and Oliver Bearman securing fifth place for Haas.
Kimi Antonelli secured his first Formula One Grand Prix victory at the Shanghai International Circuit in China on Sun, Mar 15, 2026.
Red Bull faced challenges as Max Verstappen was instructed to retire his car on lap 46, while McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were unable to compete due to car issues. The race concluded with Pierre Gasly taking sixth for Alpine, followed by Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Carlos Sainz, and Franco Colapinto.
Formula One Chief Executive Stefano Domenicali congratulated Antonelli on his win, and the event concluded with the playing of the Italian national anthem during the podium ceremony.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.
