The drama started at Shanghani International circuit even before Kimi Antonelli and the rest of the grid could start the formation lap. Both McLarens, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, were still in the garage when the Formation lap began due to unspecified issues.
The team reportedly identified an issue in the garage and tried to repair the car, so they were supposed to start from the pit lane, but they couldn’t do so in time. Alex Albon, due to hydraulic issues, and Gabriel Bortoleto did not get to start either.
Ferrari Rockets Ahead
Both Ferraris launched their cars to the front as soon as the lights went out. While Lewis Hamilton held his lead, Charles fell to third place. Kimi Antonelli held onto P2 after becoming the youngest driver to take pole.
Isack Hadjar saw some action in the first lap itself as the Red Bull driver spun out while making a move on Ollie Bearman.
Antonelli didn’t take long to take his pole position back, edging out the seven-time World Champion on the second lap. Just a couple laps later, the two Mercedes were leading the two Mercedes at Shanghai International Circuit. There were, surprisingly, followed by both Alpines.
The Midfield Drama
Max Verstappen didn’t have a great start, losing two places. He oversteered and lost a second or more on the first turn. He had a battle with rookie Arvid Lindblad on the seventh lap, but the Racing Bulls driver held his ground.
By the time the dust settled and cars had run for 8 laps, the top 10 looked like: Antonelli, Russell, Hamilton, Leclerc, Gasly, Colapinto, Ocon, Lawson, Lindblad, and Verstappen.
Verstappen, Lawson, and Sainz were the first to enter the pit lane for a tyre change on lap 10. Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin stopped on one side of the track on the same lap, resulting in a yellow flag and then a safety car. Both Mercedes pitted, just like Australia. This time, both Ferraris also entered the pit lane, switching from mediums to hard.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc Bleed Each Other Out
As soon as the safety car ended, Hamilton put Russell behind him with a beautiful move, switching back and then coming inside on the corner. He went on to get past Ocon just a bit later. Leclerc also overtook Russell to take P6 for the time being, a few seconds later. The #44 won an easy battle against Colapinto to climb to P2, and Leclerc followed his teammate behind the following move.
Russell, while complaining about the grip after being overtaken by Leclerc, got back to P4 behind both Ferraris to set up the 2026 Formula 1 season’s usual top 4. Four-time world champion Verstappen also returned to the top 10 on lap 18 after going out during the safety car.
The midfield battle between the Haas(s) and Alpines was certainly a mouth-watering one for the fans, with Colapinto staying in front of Bearman and Ocon. Meanwhile, Russell caught up to Leclerc and tried to overtake him on lap 21 and multiple turns that followed.
George Russell Races Away
The Monaco-native put on a defensive masterclass for the laps to come. He not only kept Russell at bay but also got closer to his teammate. He went on to sprint ahead of Hamilton, leaving both British drivers fighting for P3. The pair swapped places a few times and went wheel-to-wheel on nearly every other corner.
The battle between Ferraris allowed Russell to take P3, pushing Hamilton off the podium for the time being. Lindblad’s Racing Bulls spun around, but he got back on track in no time. The battle between Russell and Charles continued for a couple more laps before we saw another Mercedes 1-2.
Ocon and Colapinto made contact on turn 3 on lap 34 and spun around. However, both continued the race. The Haas driver received a 10-second penalty for that.
A mistake from Leclerc brought Hamilton back to P3. The two Ferraris were again putting on a show for the fans, battling it out. Both drivers continued to complain about their battery issues. Five laps later, Leclerc was back up into third place. Hamilton got him back two turns later.
Red Bull’s Poor Run Continues
The two race leaders kept pushing while the Ferraris were left far behind. Verstappen chased Bearman for a P5 in the only battle in the midfield. However, it ended in heartbreak when the four-time world champion had to retire his Red Bull due to a mechanical issue.
Kimi Antonelli Wins Chinese GP 2026
The Italian teenager, Kimi Antonelli, was the first to see the checkered flag at Shanghai International Circuit. His teammate George Russell followed behind. Lewis Hamilton secured his first podium with Ferrari, completing what fans called an “All Mercedes” podium.
Antonelli did skip a heartbeat near the end of the 53rd lap, locking out and losing nearly two seconds. However, the 19-year-old held his nerve to get his first Formula 1 race win.
Leclerc finished fourth, about four seconds behind Hamilton. Bearman was the next to cross the finish line, followed by Gasly and Lawson. Hadjar, Sainz, and Colapinto rounded up the top 10. Hulkenberg, Lindblad, Bottas, Ocon, and Perez were the five other drivers who finished the race.
