F1 2026 Chinese Grand Prix results: Antonelli seals first win for Mercedes

The second round of the 2026 Formula 1 season delivered a dramatic weekend in Shanghai, as the sport’s new regulations continued to shape exciting racing across both the Sprint and Grand Prix.

After George Russell claimed victory in the Sprint on Saturday, Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli stole the spotlight on Sunday, converting pole position into his maiden Grand Prix win at just 19 years of age.

The young Italian controlled the race from the front after retaking the lead early on, finishing ahead of Russell to secure a dominant Mercedes 1-2 and deliver the first Grand Prix victory to his country in nearly two decades.

Lewis Hamilton completed the podium after a fierce battle with Charles Leclerc in the closing stages, while Ollie Bearman impressed with fifth place for Haas. It was a difficult weekend for reigning World Champion Lando Norris, whose race ended before it even began after electrical issues sidelined both McLarens on the grid.

Full summary of the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix results

• Winner: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
• Second place: George Russell (Mercedes)
• Third place: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
• Ollie Bearman: Fifth after charging through the field
• Arvid Lindblad: 12th on alternate strategy
• Lando Norris: Did not start after McLaren electrical issue

2026 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint results

2026 Chinese Grand Prix results

A teenager on the top step 

What happened to Kimi Antonelli at the Chinese Grand Prix? 

After a difficult Sprint in which he dropped back off the start, received a time penalty for an incident on Lap 1, and ultimately finished fifth, Kimi Antonelli had a score to settle on Sunday. 

The Mercedes driver made headlines in Qualifying by becoming the youngest pole sitter in Formula 1 history, securing top spot by two tenths of a second.

In the Grand Prix itself, although Lewis Hamilton snatched the lead at the start, Antonelli quickly regrouped. On Lap 2 he reclaimed the position down the long Shanghai back straight and began controlling the race from there.

A Safety Car on Lap 11 brought the leaders into the pits, with Antonelli switching from Medium to Hard tyres before leading the field away again at the restart.

From there he never looked seriously threatened. Aside from a brief moment when he ran wide at the hairpin late in the race, Antonelli controlled proceedings to take his first Grand Prix victory and lead a Mercedes 1-2 finish.

A strong recovery after qualifying woes 

What happened to George Russell at the Chinese Grand Prix? 

George Russell backed up his Melbourne victory with another excellent weekend, taking second place in the Grand Prix after winning Saturday’s Sprint.

Starting from pole for the Sprint, Russell immediately became locked in a fierce duel with Lewis Hamilton. The pair traded the lead multiple times in the opening laps, repeatedly overtaking one another around the outside of Turn 1 and into the hairpin.

After a late Safety Car Russell switched to Soft tyres and controlled the restart, holding off Charles Leclerc by less than a second to secure the Sprint victory.

The Grand Prix proved equally eventful for the Brit. Starting second on the grid, Russell slipped back to fourth behind the Ferraris off the line but quickly recovered, passing Leclerc into Turn 1 on Lap 3.

Following the Lap 11 Safety Car he restarted fourth and set about working his way back past the Ferraris. On Lap 25, Leclerc and Hamilton were battling side by side through the sweeping middle sector, allowing Russell to capitalise and move past Lewis into third.

A few laps later he passed Leclerc at the hairpin to take second place. Despite chasing Antonelli in the closing stages, Russell ultimately settled for second to complete a dominant Mercedes 1-2.

A first podium for Ferrari

What happened to Lewis Hamilton at the Chinese Grand Prix? 

Lewis Hamilton delivered his best weekend in red to date, finishing third after a race-long fight with team-mate Leclerc.

Starting fourth in the Sprint, Hamilton was immediately on the attack, pushing Lando Norris wide at Turn 2 to move into second before briefly snatching the lead from Russell.

The Mercedes driver reclaimed the position several times during an extraordinary early duel before the fight settled into a battle for the podium. After a late Safety Car restart, Hamilton recovered third place and held it to the finish.

Sunday’s Grand Prix began strongly as well. Launching from third on the grid, Hamilton surged into the lead at Turn 1 before Antonelli reclaimed the position down the back straight on Lap 2.

Following the Safety Car pit stops on Lap 11, he restarted fifth but quickly began climbing the order, overtaking Russell and Esteban Ocon before dispatching Franco Colapinto to move into second.

The final phase of the race produced a spectacular duel with Leclerc. The pair swapped positions numerous times in a breathless battle between Laps 25 and 40, spectacularly running wheel-to-wheel through the sweeping corners of Shanghai.

Hamilton eventually secured third place with a decisive move at Turn 1 on Lap 40 and held the position to the flag.

Another standout drive 

What happened to Oliver Bearman at the Chinese Grand Prix? 

Ollie Bearman enjoyed another strong weekend in Shanghai, scoring points in both races. Starting ninth in the Sprint, the Haas driver made a strong getaway to climb to seventh by the end of the opening lap. He ran solidly in the points positions throughout, before briefly moving up to sixth at the restart.

Although Liam Lawson eventually passed him in the closing moments, Bearman still secured eighth place and the final Sprint point.

In the Grand Prix, Bearman lined up tenth but lost ground in the opening laps after Isack Hadjar spun onto the back straight and forced him wide, dropping him outside the top ten.

Once the race settled, he began his comeback. After pitting under the Safety Car, he restarted tenth but quickly started moving through the field.

By the closing stages Bearman had surged into the top five, completing an impressive recovery drive to secure one of the best results of his Formula 1 career.

Promising pace but little to show for it 

What happened to Arvid Lindblad at the Chinese Grand Prix? 

Arvid Lindblad’s Sprint race ended almost immediately after he spun on the opening lap and was forced to retire.

Sunday’s Grand Prix began with more promise. Starting 15th, Lindblad made an excellent launch and surged into eighth during the opening lap before settling into the midfield fight.

When the Safety Car appeared on Lap 11, he chose to stay out on Hard tyres and an alternate strategy while many around him pitted, briefly promoting him to sixth for the restart.

However, the alternate strategy eventually worked against him. Rivals on fresher tyres began working their way past in the closing stages, dropping Lindblad to 12th by the chequered flag.

A Nightmare weekend for the reigning champion

What happened to Lando Norris at the Chinese Grand Prix? 

The reigning World Champion started third in the Sprint and briefly climbed to second before Lewis Hamilton forced him wide at Turn 2. Charles Leclerc also slipped past in the opening lap, leaving Norris fourth.

After pitting during the Safety Car period, he restarted third on Soft tyres but was unable to regain ground and finished fourth.

Sunday’s Grand Prix proved even more disappointing. Norris qualified sixth but his race ended before it even began after both McLaren cars suffered electrical issues in their garages, leading to a DNS.

2026 Chinese Grand Prix – key takeaways

• Kimi Antonelli secures his maiden Formula 1 victory in Shanghai.
• Mercedes claims a dominant 1-2 with George Russell finishing second.
• Lewis Hamilton takes third after an intense battle with Charles Leclerc.
• Ollie Bearman finishes fifth with a strong recovery drive.
• Arvid Lindblad shows pace but misses out on points.
• Lando Norris fails to start the race after McLaren electrical problems.

TICKETS: Watch F1 live at the 2026 British Grand Prix