Kimi Antonelli, at just 17 years old, made history by becoming Formula 1's youngest-ever pole-sitter for the Chinese Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes 1-2 ahead of George Russell. Lewis Hamilton qualified third for Ferrari, while Red Bull struggled down in eighth and ninth.
George Russell secured second on the grid for the Chinese Grand Prix after a dramatic qualifying session where his Mercedes suffered a broken front wing and then stopped on track. The team executed a rapid repair, allowing him just one lap to set a time and salvage a front-row start behind rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, aged 17, became the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history at the Chinese Grand Prix after teammate George Russell hit trouble in Q3. The result secured a Mercedes front-row lockout, while Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and a struggling Red Bull complete the top contenders for the race.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli made history by taking pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix, becoming Formula 1's youngest-ever polesitter. His teammate George Russell secured second despite a gearbox issue, while Max Verstappen struggled down in eighth.
Kimi Antonelli has become the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history after leading a Mercedes one-two in Chinese GP qualifying. Teammate George Russell secured second despite a late-session scare, while a struggling Red Bull saw Max Verstappen qualify only eighth.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, aged 19, broke Sebastian Vettel's record to become Formula 1's youngest-ever pole-sitter at the Chinese GP. He led a Mercedes front-row lockout, with teammate George Russell second despite a technical issue in qualifying. Lewis Hamilton qualified third, while Max Verstappen struggled to eighth.
Charles Leclerc took pole for Ferrari at the 2026 Chinese GP, narrowly beating Mercedes' George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. In a major surprise, Red Bull struggled severely, with Max Verstappen only fourth and Sergio Perez knocked out in Q1 alongside all Aston Martin and Williams cars, upending the expected grid order.
The F1 Academy season opened with an action-packed first race at the Chinese Grand Prix, featuring fierce battles and strategic drama on the Shanghai circuit. The event highlighted the series' growing competitiveness on the global F1 stage.
Lewis Hamilton qualified P3 in China but suspects rivals like Ferrari may have hidden performance, while expressing cautious optimism about Mercedes' own progress. He also hailed Kimi Antonelli's record-breaking pole as an "amazing achievement."
Red Bull's Isack Hadjar avoided a penalty after being investigated for incorrectly exiting the pit lane during pre-Sprint procedures in China. The stewards accepted his explanation of confusion over the track lines and issued only a warning, citing a lack of immediate danger and past precedents.
Ferrari has withdrawn its radical rotating rear wing after just one practice session in Shanghai, reverting to a conventional design for the rest of the weekend. The team, which rushed the part to the track, deemed the ambitious 'Macarena' wing not yet ready for a full sprint event despite showing initial promise, with Lewis Hamilton calling its debut "premature."
Sergio Perez has branded overtaking in Formula 1 as "very fake," arguing it now relies too much on pressing a button for battery power rather than driver skill and racecraft. His criticism highlights a growing concern that the sport's push for more passing has made it artificial, with the FIA set to review the racing product amid discussions for the 2026 rules.
