Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes secured his first Formula 1 victory at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, becoming the sport’s second-youngest race winner. The 19-year-old Italian, who started from pole position, finished 5.5 seconds ahead of teammate George Russell, extending Mercedes’ strong start to the 2026 season.
Lewis Hamilton claimed his first podium finish for Ferrari, completing the top three. The seven-time World Champion engaged in a spirited battle with teammate Charles Leclerc throughout the race, ultimately securing third place after a close contest. Hamilton’s result came exactly one year after his Sprint victory at the same Shanghai International Circuit, marking a significant milestone in his transition to the Italian team.
Antonelli’s win followed a dominant performance throughout the weekend, having also secured pole position on Saturday. He briefly lost the lead to Hamilton at the start of the race but quickly regained it within two laps, controlling the remainder of the Grand Prix with composure. A late lock-up on the final laps did little to threaten his victory.
Russell, who won Saturday’s Sprint race, fought his way back to second place after initially falling behind the Ferrari drivers during the mid-point of the race. He currently leads the Drivers’ Championship standings, holding a four-point advantage over Antonelli.
Oliver Bearman of Haas achieved his second top-five finish of the season, finishing fifth after a dramatic opening lap that saw him narrowly avoid a collision with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar. The incident forced Bearman onto the run-off area, but he maintained his composure to secure Haas’ best result of the year and extend his points-scoring streak.
Pierre Gasly secured sixth place for Alpine, demonstrating the team’s improved competitiveness. He qualified seventh and maintained a clean race to score points for the second consecutive weekend.
Liam Lawson finished seventh for Racing Bulls, benefiting from a strategic decision not to pit during a Safety Car period. He finished ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who experienced a frustrating race and ultimately retired with a car issue, marking his first scoreless race since the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz Jr. Of Williams secured ninth place, improving from a 17th-place starting position. The Spaniard pitted early in the race, opting for a strategy focused on tire management and track position.
Franco Colapinto rounded out the top ten for Alpine, securing his first points finish since the 2024 season. A synchronized spin with Haas’ Esteban Ocon briefly hampered his progress, but he was able to recover and hold onto tenth place.
Nico Hulkenberg of Audi narrowly missed out on points, finishing 11th. A wheelgun issue during his pit stop compromised his chances of breaking into the top ten. Valtteri Bottas completed the race for Cadillac, marking the team’s first double-car finish, and finished 13th.
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