Antonelli takes first F1 win, Max DNF: 'A lot went wrong'

Published on 15 March 2026 by Stefan Meens

Andrea Kimi Antonelli took his first Formula 1 race win at the Chines Grand Prix. George Russell made it a Mercedes 1-2 with Lewis Hamilton claiming the final podium spot ahead of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. Oracle Red Bull Racing endured a tough race with Max Verstappen having to retire his RB22 at the end of the race and teammate Isack Hadjar only finishing in eight.

“We had problems with the ERS cooling”, said Max after the race, in which he endured another difficult start. “I always drop to last, so I might as well start from the back. It was just a difficult race with a lot of things going wrong. The car didn’t feel good, no balance, high tyre deg. There was also something wrong with the steering wheel, so there’s a whole list of things. I’m not even sure how I made it to sixth.”

Nevertheless, Max enjoyed seeing Kimi Antonelli clinch his first win. “Those are great moments. I’m really happy for him. It always takes away a bit of pressure when you win your first race and it won’t be his last. He’s a great guy; we get along great and he’s very enthusiastic about my GT3 program. He wants to drive together, so we’ll see what happens in the future. He has to focus on F1 now. His car is a rocket so he will be able to win more this season. We’ll have enough time to do other things in the future.”

On the topic of GT3, Max will contest the NLS2 race next weekend at the Nordschleife. “We’ll head there on Thursday evening and test on Friday. We’ll work on some stuff and for me it’s an opportunity to get up speed. In the race we’ll gather experience to get the car in the right window for the 24-hour race, that’s what it’s all about.”

Although the F1 grid comprises of 22 slots, only 18 drivers take the start with the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, the Williams of Alex Albon and the Audi of Gabi Bortoleto unable to participate due to various technical issues.

Antonelli, the youngest pole sitter in the sport’s history, is unable to maintain the lead as the lights go out. As in yesterday’s sprint and last week’s Australian Grand Prix,  the Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton rocket up the order with the latter snatching the lead and the former tucking in behind Antonelli in third on the opening lap.

Max, starting in eighth, has another dreadful start with the Red Bull bogging down and dropping the Dutchman back to seventeenth. As the Ferraris and Mercedes dice at the front, Max slowly but gradually works his way back to tenth on the soft Pirellis. The red-side walled compound struggles to last and Max heads to the pits to put on the hard tyres. Unfortunately for the Dutchman, the pit stop comes too soon as only a lap later, the safety car comes out to enable the marshals to retrieve the broken-down Aston Martin of Lance Stroll.

Half the drivers remaining in the race make the most of the opportunity to pit, including the leading Mercedes and Ferraris. When the race restarts, Antonelli remains in first and after twenty laps, the young Italian leads ahead of Hamilton, Leclerc, Russell and Franco Colapinto (Alpine).
Max is ninth at the restart but fights his way to sixth past two Alpines and the Haas of Estabon Ocon. The latter’s teammate, Oliver Bearman, enjoys a strong race in P5. At the very front, Mercedes restores the early season order after George Russell passes both Ferraris to slot into second behind Antonelli.

Further back, Colapinto is unable to capitalise on his strong race; as the Argentinian steers into the turn one following his final pit stop, Ocon is too optimistic and rams the Alpine on the inside, causing both drivers to spin. The Haas driver admits his mistake and is given a ten second time penalty.

Meanwhile, Max’s weekend goes from bad to worse with the team instructing the four-time world champion to retire the car on lap 47. Out front, despite a lock up with a few laps to go, Antonelli comfortably cruises to his first ever Formula 1 race win, twenty years on from the last Italian victory, which was Giancarlo Fisichella at the 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix.

Results Grand Prix China: