The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix was marked by Kimi Antonelli’s historic triumph, as he secured his first Formula 1 victory after starting from pole position. The Italian Mercedes driver dominated the race at the Shanghai circuit with a solid and consistent pace, managing his strategy perfectly and maintaining control at key moments. He eventually crossed the finish line ahead of his team-mate George Russell, securing another one-two finish for the German team.
At just 19 years old, Antonelli has become one of the youngest winners in the category’s history and capped off a near-perfect weekend by securing pole position, victory and the fastest lap. His performance confirms Mercedes’ strong start to the 2026 season and reinforces their position as one of the strongest teams at this early stage of the championship.
McLaren has had a weekend to forget, with two retirements
One of the major surprises of the Grand Prix was the unexpected turn of events for McLaren, which was unable to field either of its two drivers on the grid. Both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri suffered electrical problems with their power units before the start of the race, preventing them from getting off the line.
The situation proved particularly frustrating for the team, which had arrived in China with high hopes following its performance at the first race of the year. Technical issues meant they had to work against the clock in the garage, but in the end they were unable to resolve the problems in time.
These two retirements are a major setback in the battle for the constructors’ championship and mean the team must conduct a thorough review of what happened. Reliability will now be key to making up ground in the coming races.
Ferrari is giving it their all and Sainz is picking up points
Ferrari was at the centre of one of the weekend’s most intense battles at the Chinese Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc put on a spectacular duel at various stages of the race, swapping positions and demonstrating a competitive pace that kept the excitement going right to the end. In the end, Hamilton managed to secure a podium finish, reinforcing the team’s presence at the top of the standings and demonstrating the car’s strong performance at the Shanghai circuit.
As for the Spanish drivers, it was a very different day. Carlos Sainz managed to score his first points of the season thanks to a clever strategy and the numerous retirements that occurred during the race, finishing in ninth place after a gruelling race. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso was once again forced to retire due to technical problems with his car, in what was a particularly difficult weekend for the Asturian and his team.
