Kimi Antonelli captured his first Formula One victory Sunday at the Chinese Grand Prix, capping a dominant weekend that began with a historic qualifying performance and ended with a 1-2 finish for Mercedes at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Antonelli, 19, secured his maiden pole position Saturday, becoming the youngest polesitter in Formula One history. He topped the final qualifying session (Q3) after advancing cleanly through the earlier rounds, showing consistent pace throughout all three segments.
In Q1, Antonelli comfortably progressed while several lower-tier teams battled to avoid early elimination. The second session, Q2, saw tighter margins among the front-runners, but Antonelli again posted one of the fastest times to move into the top-10 shootout.
During Q3, Antonelli delivered his fastest lap of the weekend to edge out teammate George Russell for pole, locking out the front row for Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton qualified just behind in third for Ferrari, followed by teammate Charles Leclerc.
Antonelli carried that momentum into Sunday’s race. Although he briefly lost the lead at the start, he regained it on Lap 2 and maintained control through pit stops and a mid-race safety car period. He also recorded the fastest lap, completing a rare sweep of pole, victory and fastest lap.
Russell finished second to secure the team’s 1-2 result, while Hamilton held off late pressure to claim third and his first podium with Ferrari.
Mercedes’ strong qualifying pace translated directly into race performance, reinforcing its early advantage under Formula One’s new 2026 technical regulations. Russell also won Saturday’s sprint race, further highlighting the team’s form.
Ferrari showed continued improvement, with Leclerc finishing fourth after challenging Hamilton in the closing stages.
The race included several setbacks for top competitors. McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri did not start due to electrical issues, while defending champion Max Verstappen retired late.
Elsewhere, Oliver Bearman finished fifth for Haas, while Pierre Gasly placed sixth for Alpine. Teammate Franco Colapinto scored his first career points.
The result reshapes the early season outlook, with Mercedes emerging as the team to beat following the opening rounds of the 2026 campaign, led by the rapid rise of its teenage driver.