The second round of the Formula One 2026 season delivered drama, milestones, and unexpected setbacks as the Chinese Grand Prix returned to the spotlight at the Shanghai International Circuit.
From a historic victory to technical heartbreaks, the Shanghai weekend provided plenty of storylines that could shape the early championship race.
Kimi Antonelli scripts history in Shanghai
The biggest headline of the weekend belonged to Kimi Antonelli, who produced a remarkable turnaround to secure his maiden Grand Prix victory. Driving for Mercedes, the 19-year-old became the second-youngest race winner in F1 history.
Antonelli’s weekend began with adversity after a collision penalty during the Sprint race. However, he bounced back spectacularly by claiming his first-ever pole position during qualifying, becoming the youngest polesitter in the sport’s history.
Although Lewis Hamilton briefly seized the lead at the start for Ferrari, Kimi Antonelli regained control later in the race and held on despite a few late lock-ups. His win also completed a dominant Mercedes 1-2 finish alongside teammate George Russell.
After the race, the emotional Italian admitted he was “speechless” and thanked his team for helping him “achieve this dream.”
Hamilton vs Leclerc delivers Ferrari drama
Ferrari once again demonstrated its impressive race starts under the new regulations. Hamilton and Charles Leclerc launched strongly off the grid, challenging the Mercedes pair early in the race.
The battle eventually turned into an intense Ferrari duel for the final podium spot. Hamilton ultimately prevailed to secure his first Grand Prix podium for the Scuderia.
"I had so much fun," Lewis Hamilton said after the race. "We had a great start. I wasn’t able to keep these guys [Mercedes] behind, but to stay in the fight…
"It was one of the most enjoyable races I’ve had in a long, long time, the fact that the cars are the way they are this year. That battle with Charles at the end was awesome – great wheel-to-wheel, very fair and just what we want."
McLaren’s disastrous weekend
Reigning champions McLaren endured one of their toughest weekends in recent memory. Neither Lando Norris nor Oscar Piastri managed to start Sunday’s race due to separate technical issues with their MCL40 cars.
Norris failed to leave the pit lane before the start, while Piastri was forced to return to the pits before the formation lap.
“It was an electrical problem on the power unit, different to Lando’s,” Piastri explained.
Red Bull struggles continue
For Red Bull Racing, the weekend proved frustrating. Four-time champion Max Verstappen retired from the race due to an ERS cooling issue while running inside the top six.
"A lot to learn from," Verstappen said. "It’s definitely not where we want to be, of course, but I also know that the team is giving it everything."
Midfield surprises shake up the standings
The midfield battle added another layer of excitement, with Oliver Bearman delivering a standout performance for Haas F1 Team by finishing fifth. Pierre Gasly also impressed with sixth place for Alpine F1 Team.
Both drivers have now emerged as early contenders in the midfield fight, highlighting how competitive the 2026 grid has become under the new regulations.