Teen star Antonelli wins first F1 race in China as Hamilton secures Ferrari podium

Formula 1 may have found its next superstar.

Nineteen year old Kimi Antonelli produced a composed and emotional drive at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday to claim his first victory in Formula 1, leading a dominant Mercedes one two finish ahead of teammate George Russell.

Lewis Hamilton added another storyline to the race by finishing third, securing his long awaited first podium for Ferrari.

The result capped a dramatic weekend in Shanghai that highlighted both the arrival of a new talent and the continuing strength of Mercedes early in the 2026 season.

Antonelli turns pole position into a breakthrough win

Antonelli had already made history before the lights went out on Sunday. The Italian became the youngest pole sitter in Formula 1 history during qualifying, putting himself in the perfect position to chase his maiden victory.

The start of the race briefly threatened to spoil the script when Antonelli lost the lead in the opening moments. However, the young driver quickly regained control and began to dictate the pace at the front of the field.

Once back in front, Antonelli looked calm and confident as he built a steady advantage over the chasing pack. He eventually crossed the line more than five seconds ahead of Russell to seal a memorable win.

Speaking after the race, the teenager struggled to hide his emotions.

“I’m speechless. I’m about to cry to be honest,” Antonelli said. “Thank you to the team for helping me achieve this dream.”

There was one tense moment late in the race when Antonelli locked up at a hairpin on the penultimate lap and ran slightly wide. Fortunately for Mercedes, the mistake did not cost him the lead and he quickly recovered.

The victory also carried special significance for the Italian driver.

“I really wanted to bring Italy back to the top,” he added.

Mercedes tighten their grip on the early championship

Mercedes have started the new Formula 1 season in impressive fashion and Sunday’s result underlined their early dominance.

It was the team’s second consecutive one two finish after Russell led Antonelli home in the season opening race in Australia.

Russell remains at the top of the drivers’ championship standings, although Antonelli’s victory has cut his lead to just four points.

The British driver was quick to acknowledge the scale of his teammate’s achievement.

“A huge congratulations to Kimi because it’s always very special to win your first race,” Russell said.

Behind the Mercedes duo, Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari after an intense fight among the leading drivers earlier in the race.

Hamilton celebrates his first Ferrari podium

While Antonelli took the spotlight, the race was also an important moment for Lewis Hamilton.

The seven time world champion finally secured his first podium finish since joining Ferrari last year. Hamilton briefly led the race at the start after launching well off the line and remained in the fight throughout the afternoon.

In the closing stages he battled teammate Charles Leclerc in a spirited duel before securing third place.

Hamilton said the podium felt like a major milestone after a challenging start to life with the Italian team.

“To stay in the fight was one of the most enjoyable races I’ve had in a long time,” he said. “A massive thank you to Ferrari for my first podium with them.”

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur described the result as a step forward for the team but admitted there is still work to do to match Mercedes’ pace.

Difficult weekend for McLaren and Red Bull

While Mercedes celebrated another dominant result, some of their rivals endured a frustrating afternoon.

McLaren failed to start the race entirely after both cars suffered technical problems before the lights went out. Championship contender Lando Norris could not reach the grid due to an electrical issue, while Oscar Piastri was forced back into the garage shortly before the start.

Red Bull also faced disappointment when four time world champion Max Verstappen was forced to retire his car late in the race.

Further down the order, Oliver Bearman impressed with fifth place for Haas. Pierre Gasly finished sixth for Alpine, followed by Liam Lawson in seventh.

The final points paying positions went to Isack Hadjar, Carlos Sainz and Franco Colapinto.

A changing of the guard in Formula 1

Antonelli’s victory could mark the beginning of a new era in the sport.

The teenager stepped into one of Formula 1’s most high pressure seats when he replaced Hamilton at Mercedes. Winning only a few races into his career will only increase expectations around the young Italian.

With Mercedes looking strong and Antonelli quickly finding his rhythm, the 2026 season is already shaping up to be one of Formula 1’s most intriguing title battles.