F1 LIVE: Antonelli claims victory in China, Verstappen dissects race start woes

Kimi Antonelli etched his name firmly into history to become the 116th race winner in Formula 1. The Italian driver stormed to victory with a commanding drive at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Antonelli, who claimed pole position for the race, masterfully converted his first-position start into victory. The 19-year-old fended off early challenges from Lewis Hamilton to win in front of the capacity crowd in China.

The win also continued the dominant streak that the Mercedes outfit has enjoyed in the 2026 campaign, following victories at the Australian Grand Prix and the Sprint race in Shanghai.

Antonelli was followed in second place by teammate George Russell, with Hamilton rounding out the podium.

While the F1 world continues to digest Antonelli’s maiden win, Max Verstappen has revealed the reasons behind his poor race start at the Chinese Grand Prix.

The Red Bull Racing driver pointed out that the race start wasn’t a surprise, citing similar experiences during both the Australian Grand Prix and the earlier Sprint race.

Verstappen slid down the grid following lights out after his eighth-place start. The four-time world champion aimed for a recovery drive; however, his run was hampered by an ERS issue he suffered on the 46th lap of the Grand Prix.

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