Kimi Antonelli produced a stunning performance to win the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, becoming the second-youngest race winner in Formula One history. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver controlled the race in Shanghai and took his first Grand Prix win in convincing fashion. Antonelli started from pole position and briefly lost the lead to Lewis Hamilton at the start. However, the young Italian quickly reclaimed the position and gradually pulled away from the chasing pack. Once back and forth, he maintained a steady pace and remained in control for the rest of the race. The victory also marked another strong result for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team, which went 1-2. Antonelli’s team-mate George Russell finished second after outpacing both Ferrari drivers. After joining the team, Hamilton finished on the podium in third place, securing his first Grand Prix podium for Scuderia Ferrari. Antonelli’s victory also made him one of the youngest winners in the history of the sport. The only driver to win a Formula One race at a younger age is Max Verstappen, who claimed his first victory at the age of 18 in 2016. Antonelli also became the first Italian driver to win the Grand Prix since Giancarlo Fisciella’s feat in 2006. Behind the top three, Charles Leclerc finished fourth after a close battle with his Ferrari team-mate Hamilton. Oliver Bearman finished an impressive fifth for the Haas F1 Team. Further down the order, Pierre Gasly finished sixth for Alpine F1 Team, followed by Liam Lawson seventh for Racing Bulls. Ishaq Hajjar recovered from an early spin to finish eighth for Red Bull Racing. Carlos Sainz Jr finished ninth for Williams Racing, while Franco Colapinto finished in the top ten for Alpine and scored his first point since 2024. The race proved difficult for Verstappen, who was running sixth before losing power which forced him to return to the pits. It was another setback for the four-time world champion during a challenging weekend. Meanwhile, both McLaren Formula 1 team drivers were unable to start the race. Reigning world champion Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Pastry suffered technical problems shortly before the start of the race, forcing them out minutes before the start. Antonelli’s win represents a defining moment in his young career, especially after initial doubts when he crashed during his Formula One practice debut in 2024.
