Kimi Antonelli claimed his maiden Formula One victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, holding off Mercedes teammate George Russell and a resurgent Lewis Hamilton. The 19-year-old Italian became the second-youngest winner in F1 history, behind only Max Verstappen, after a composed drive from pole position.
Hamilton secured third place for his first podium with Ferrari, following a fierce battle with Charles Leclerc. The seven-time world champion showed renewed vigour, contrasting with his disenchanted form last season. His race engineer Pete Bonnington, now working with Antonelli, joined the celebrations on the podium alongside Hamilton.
Antonelli retook the lead after losing it to Hamilton on the opening lap and never relinquished it, despite a late lock-up at the hairpin three laps from the end. 'I gave myself a heart attack,' he admitted. The win ended a two-decade drought for Italian drivers in F1, since Giancarlo Fisichella's last victory.
Team principal Toto Wolff's decision to promote Antonelli from the junior programme, bypassing F3 and with only one F2 season, drew criticism. But Wolff reminded the teenager after the race that 'the naysayers had thought it would be too much'. Antonelli now sits four points behind Russell in the championship.
The race delivered intense action across the field, with packed grandstands at the sold-out Shanghai circuit. Despite Verstappen's criticism of the regulations, the entertaining racing may delay rumoured rule changes.
