Kimi Antonelli takes maiden win at Chinese Grand Prix
15th March 2026Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli has taken his first-ever race win at the Chinese Grand Prix, finishing ahead of his teammate George Russell.
Feature image credit: Mercedes F1
At the Shanghai International Circuit, Antonelli had secured two achievements this week in his young Formula 1 career: his first-ever grand prix pole position and his maiden grand prix victory.
Antonelli becomes the first Italian to win a Formula 1 race since Giancarlo Fisichella at the Malaysia Grand Prix. Marking nearly 20 years since an Italian driver stood on the top step of the podium.
The Mercedes driver fended off the likes of his teammate, George Russell and the seven-time world champion, and Ferrari driver, Lewis Hamilton, to take his first F1 race win.
Russell and Hamilton finished second and third overall, respectively, finally marking Hamilton’s first podium appearance as a Ferrari driver.
However, the Chinese GP was a troubled grand prix for over a quarter of the grid as seven drivers were not able to make it to the chequered flag, with four non-starters.
The McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Williams’ Alexander Albon failed to start the race.
Whilst after the race had started, both Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso retired from the race alongside Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Formula 1 confirm cancellation of Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Chinese Grand Prix results:
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
- George Russell, Mercedes
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
- Oliver Bearman, Haas
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine
- Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
- Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
- Carlos Sainz, Williams
- Franco Colapinto, Alpine
- Nico Hulkenberg, Audi
- Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
- Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac
- Esteban Ocon, Haas
- Sergio Perez, Cadillac
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Formula 1 confirm cancellation of Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
- Kimi Antonelli becomes youngest pole sitter ahead of Chinese Grand Prix
- 2026 Chinese Grand Prix – Sprint Race results
- F1 Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GP to be cancelled, reports suggest
- George Russell controls Chinese GP sprint qualifying to pole
- 2026 Chinese Grand Prix: Sprint Qualifying results
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with the latest news from ApexMotorsports.co.uk!
Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
