What is Antonelli’s and Russell’s verdict on Mercedes’ second commanding showing in 2026?

Mercedes delivered another commanding performance at the Chinese Grand Prix, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli taking a sensational maiden Formula 1 victory and becoming the second‑youngest race winner in the sport’s history.

The 19‑year‑old Italian produced a composed and mature drive well beyond his years, leading home teammate George Russell to secure the team’s second one‑two finish of the 2026 season.

Antonelli did not have the cleanest getaway, losing a position to Lewis Hamilton as the lights went out, but he quickly settled into a rhythm. He held off Charles Leclerc in the early laps, and once his tyres reached their operating window, he mounted a decisive attack on Hamilton to reclaim the lead.

From there, he steadily built a gap, controlling the race with remarkable calmness. His only scare came late in the afternoon when a lock‑up on worn tyres briefly alarmed the Mercedes pit wall, but the young Italian recovered instantly and remained unchallenged to the flag.

Reflecting on the biggest moment of his career so far, Antonelli was visibly emotional. “What an incredible day! This win is a fulfilment of one of the dreams I’ve had ever since I first drove a go‑kart,” he said.

He dedicated the victory to those who supported him on his journey, adding: “I want to say thank you to my amazing family and the incredible team at both Lauda Drive and Morgan Drive. I couldn’t have done this without any of them, and it means so much to take my first victory in F1. It was a very special moment for all of us.”

He also acknowledged the challenges he faced during the race. “The race itself wasn’t easy. I lost a position at the start and had to fight back to get ahead.

“We then had to manage the Safety Car restart which wasn’t easy on the Hard compound. It was difficult to get the tyres working but fortunately we were able to before we were under threat from those behind.” Looking ahead, Antonelli remained grounded despite the historic achievement.

“This has been a great way to close the first double‑header of the season but there is lots of work ahead. We aren’t taking anything for granted and will make sure we work hard ahead of Japan and arrive in Suzuka in the strongest position we can.”

While Antonelli enjoyed a near‑perfect afternoon, Russell’s race was far more complicated. A poor launch dropped him behind both Ferraris, and the Safety Car restart on hard tyres cost him further ground.

He found himself mired in midfield traffic after the pit stops, but with patience and pace, he fought his way back through the field. His overtakes on both Ferraris proved crucial, allowing him to climb back to second place—though by then, Antonelli was too far ahead to challenge.

Russell was full of praise for his young teammate. “Firstly, huge congratulations to Kimi on his first victory in F1. He drove a great race, and it was brilliant to be up there on the podium with him.

“I am sure it is a moment he will never forget and to do it with the team scoring a 1‑2 is fantastic.” He also detailed the difficulties he faced during the race, explaining: “My own race was not straightforward. I lost positions both at the start and then at the Safety Car restart as we struggled to switch the Hard tyres on.

“The Ferraris were quick, particularly in the early stages, and we had to get back past them twice. They were fast in all the right places and that made our job a lot more difficult. Happily, we were able to do it each time, but it cost us the chance to fight for the win.”

Despite the challenges, Russell was optimistic about Mercedes’ form. “It has been a great way to start the season, and we are definitely the team to beat at the moment. We have been put under a lot of pressure at these first two races, and we need to keep pushing hard. The package is strong though so I’m looking forward to heading to the next race in Japan.”