Following 'Max' Footsteps! Kimi Antonelli Becomes Only Second Teen To Win F1 Race

Last Updated:March 15, 2026, 15:06 IST

Antonelli, who accomplished the feat at 19 years and 202 days, follows the footsteps of Verstappen, who triumphed in Spain back in the year 2016 as a 18 year old.

Mercedes starlet Kimi Antonelli scripted history on Sunday as he clinched the title at the Chinese Grand Prix, after having claimed pole a day earlier. Antonelli became just the second driver, after four-time champion Max Verstappen to register a race win as a teeager.

Antonelli, who accomplished the feat at 19 years and 202 days, follows the footsteps of Verstappen, who triumphed in Spain back in the year 2016 as a 18 year old.

The 19-year-old Antonelli turned his record as the youngest pole-sitter in Formula One history into a victory after both McLarens dramatically failed to start the Shanghai race.

It was another 1-2 finish for Mercedes to begin the season, with Antonelli’s teammate George Russell overcoming a battle with both Ferraris to finish second. Lewis Hamilton secured his long-awaited first Grand Prix podium finish for Ferrari by coming third.

The new regulations once again produced a thrilling fight for position between Mercedes and the fast-starting Ferraris, as Russell fought his way past Leclerc and Hamilton in a multi-lap tussle featuring numerous position changes. This allowed Antonelli to extend his lead at the front.

Even after Russell had pulled away to secure second place, Leclerc and Hamilton continued their own fight for third. “This is quite a fun battle," Leclerc exclaimed over the radio.

Leclerc finished fourth, with Oliver Bearman fifth for Haas, Pierre Gasly sixth for Alpine, and Liam Lawson seventh for Racing Bulls. Isack Hadjar recovered from an early spin to place eighth for Red Bull, ahead of Carlos Sainz, Jr. in ninth for Williams, while Franco Colapinto was 10th for Alpine, scoring his first point since 2024.

Max Verstappen was running sixth when his car lost power, forcing him to limp back to the pits in another blow for the four-time champion who has been a leading critic of F1’s new cars.

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