Antonelli wins Chinese Grand Prix and secures first F1 victory

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, held at the Shanghai International Circuit, delivered a historic result as Kimi Antonelli claimed his first career victory in Formula One while leading a dominant race for Mercedes.

Antonelli, who had already made headlines by becoming the youngest pole-sitter in Formula 1 history, controlled the race after briefly losing the lead at the start. The 19-year-old regained the position early in the race and maintained a steady pace to cross the finish line 5.5 seconds ahead of teammate George Russell, completing a Mercedes one-two finish. Lewis Hamilton finished third, securing his first podium with Ferrari, while teammate Charles Leclerc crossed the line in fourth after an intense intra-team battle during the race.

Further down the order, Franco Colapinto finished 10th to score a point, while Sergio Pérez ended the race in 15th place after struggling for pace throughout the event.

The race also featured early chaos, with several cars failing to start and multiple retirements during the event, but Antonelli remained in control to secure a milestone win that strengthens Mercedes’ early momentum in the 2026 championship battle.

The victory marked a historic moment for Antonelli, who became the first Italian driver to win a Formula 1 race since 2006, highlighting the arrival of one of the sport’s most promising young talents.