Kimi Antonelli takes first Formula One win with Mercedes one-two in Chinese Grand Prix

SHANGHAI – A tearful Kimi Antonelli celebrated the first win of his Formula One career on March 15, after leading teammate George Russell home in a Mercedes one-two in China from pole position.

The 19-year-old became the second-youngest race winner in the sport’s history after four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who claimed his maiden victory with Red Bull as an 18-year-old at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton was a distant third – the 41-year-old’s first podium since he joined the team in 2025 – with teammate Charles Leclerc fourth after a lively battle between the two.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris and his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri both failed to start due to problems with their cars.

“Thank you everyone. You made me achieve one of my dreams,” said Antonelli over the radio after finishing the race.

“I’m speechless. I’m about to cry to be honest,” he said in his first interview as a winner in front of the crowd at the Shanghai International Circuit, before doing just that.

The Italian briefly lost the lead at the start but once he regained it, he controlled the pace to cruise home to the chequered flag.

It was an almost flawless drive from the teenager, apart from one heart-fluttering moment when he locked up at the turn 14 hairpin with three laps to go, but he recovered after a small excursion off the track.

“I really wanted to bring Italy back to the top and we did today, even if I gave myself a little bit of a heart attack towards the end, a flat spot,” said Antonelli, the first Italian race winner since Giancarlo Fisichella for Renault at the 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix.

He replaced Hamilton at Mercedes and the seven-time world champion said he could not be more pleased for Antonelli and his former team.

“I wasn’t able to keep these guys behind, but to stay in the fight, it was one of the most enjoyable races I’ve had in a long time, if ever,” added the Briton.

“The fact that the cars are the way they are this year and that battle with Charles at the end was awesome. A great wheel-to-wheel battle and very fair and just what we want.” 

Hamilton, as he had done in the March 14 sprint race won by Russell, got off to a great start and had taken the lead by the time the teams emerged from the first complex of turns.

Leclerc also launched brilliantly and managed to get past Russell, who started second on the grid.

The top four swopped places multiple times before a safety car on lap 11 brought them all into the pits.

Once the dust settled and they went racing again, Antonelli led from Hamilton, with Leclerc third and Russell fourth.

By lap 29, Russell had overtaken both Ferraris for second place and set off trying to catch his young teammate, who was more than seven seconds in front at that point.

Verstappen continued Red Bull’s poor start to the new season when he was told to retire his car on lap 46.

McLaren, who won the constructors’ championship in 2024 and 2025, have also endured an awful start to the season. Last weekend, only one McLaren took part in the opening race in Australia after Piastri crashed on his way to the grid, meaning the Australian is yet to feature in a Grand Prix this year.

“It’s been a while since I’ve watched two Grands Prix on TV,” he said.

Mercedes will look to continue their momentum at the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 before an enforced five-week break, after F1 races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled as the Middle East war engulfs the region, the sport’s governing body FIA announced on March 14.

“While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April,” the FIA said in a statement.

“The decision has been taken in full consultation with Formula One Group, local promoters and our member clubs in the region.”

Bahrain had been scheduled as the fourth Grand Prix this season to take place from April 10 to 12, with the Saudi race a week later. The following F1 race will be the May 1-3 Miami Grand Prix.

“The FIA will always place the safety and well-being of our community and colleagues first,” FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said.

“Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are incredibly important to the ecosystem of our racing season, and I look forward to returning to both as soon as circumstances allow.” REUTERS, AFP