The 2026 Formula 1 season continues to rewrite the record books.
At the Shanghai International Circuit, Kimi Antonelli became the second youngest Grand Prix winner in Formula 1 history, converting pole position into victory and leading a Mercedes 1–2 finish over teammate George Russell. Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton completed the podium, securing his first top-three finish since joining the Scuderia.
The Chinese Grand Prix weekend delivered everything expected from the new era of Formula 1 — speed, chaos, and a rapidly shifting competitive order. It also came with a major off-track development as Formula 1 confirmed that the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix have been cancelled, leaving the championship without any races scheduled in April.
Antonelli Converts Historic Pole Into Victory
Antonelli’s weekend began with history before the race even started.
The Mercedes driver secured pole position in qualifying, becoming the youngest pole sitter in Formula 1 Grand Prix history. The moment capped another dominant showing from Mercedes, which locked out the front row with Russell alongside him.
Qualifying wasn’t entirely straightforward. Russell stalled on track during Q3 and appeared stuck in first gear before eventually rejoining the session. The delay left him with time for only a single flying lap, but it proved good enough for second.
Once the race began, Antonelli handled the pressure of leading a Grand Prix with remarkable composure.
Ferrari again produced exceptional launches off the line. Lewis Hamilton immediately surged into the lead while teammate Charles Leclerc also gained positions. Russell slipped backward in the opening moments, falling from second to fourth as Ferrari briefly looked poised to control the race.
But the Mercedes pace soon took control of the weekend.
Antonelli reclaimed the lead during the race and steadily built a comfortable gap over the field. Even a late lock-up and off-track moment on lap 53 failed to threaten his advantage, and the Mercedes driver ultimately cruised to victory ahead of Russell.
Hamilton Claims First Ferrari Podium
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari has been one of the biggest storylines of the 2026 season, and Shanghai delivered the first major milestone.
After jumping into the lead at the start and battling Russell during the sprint race earlier in the weekend, Hamilton secured third place in the Grand Prix, earning his first podium in Ferrari red.
Ferrari’s pace throughout the weekend appeared competitive, particularly at the start of races. Both Ferraris launched extremely well off the grid in both the sprint and the Grand Prix, repeatedly gaining positions during the opening phase.
Still, Mercedes’ overall race pace proved difficult to match over a full stint.
Sprint Race Shows Early Mercedes Advantage
The sprint race offered an early preview of the Mercedes strength.
George Russell won the sprint after an intense opening battle with Hamilton that saw the pair swap the lead multiple times during the first few laps.
The final sprint podium featured:
- George Russell — Mercedes
- Charles Leclerc — Ferrari
- Lewis Hamilton — Ferrari
The race also featured early drama.
Kimi Antonelli suffered a poor start and later received a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Isack Hadjar, yet still recovered to finish fifth. Both Red Bull drivers finished outside the points in the sprint, an early sign of the team’s struggles during the weekend.
Red Bull’s Weekend Falls Apart
If Mercedes owned the front of the grid in Shanghai, Red Bull endured one of the most difficult weekends of the season.
Max Verstappen lost six positions at the start of the Grand Prix and never recovered. His race eventually ended in retirement, continuing a frustrating weekend for the reigning champions.
Hadjar also suffered problems early, spinning during the opening lap and pitting immediately afterward.
For a team accustomed to dominating recent seasons, Shanghai represented a rare weekend with little to show on the results sheet.
Bearman Delivers Big Points for Haas
One of the standout performances of the race came from Haas.
Oliver Bearman finished fifth, running as the best car outside the Ferrari and Mercedes quartet for much of the race. His performance capped an impressive weekend for the young driver and delivered valuable points for the American team.
Incidents and Attrition Shape the Race
The race was far from clean.
A Safety Car appeared on lap 10 after Lance Stroll ran off the track and required recovery. The incident came moments after several drivers — including Liam Lawson, Max Verstappen, and Carlos Sainz — had already pitted, creating a significant strategic shake-up.
Later in the race, Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto collided on lap 34. Ocon accepted responsibility for the contact and was handed a 10-second penalty.
Fernando Alonso also retired, contributing to a race that eventually left only 15 cars still running late in the event.
F1 Academy: Felbermayr Claims Feature Victory
The weekend also featured the opening appearance of F1 Academy in Shanghai.
Qualifying was dominated by PREMA driver Alisha Palmowski, who took pole position by more than four tenths of a second.
The sprint race used the reverse-grid format, allowing Nina Gademan to start from pole and convert the opportunity into victory.
Sprint Race Podium:
- Nina Gademan
- Natalia Granada
- Emma Felbermayr
In the feature race, Emma Felbermayr secured the victory after a race that saw four retirements.
Feature Race Podium:
- Emma Felbermayr
- Alisha Palmowski
- Payton Westcott
April Calendar Cleared After Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Cancelled
The Shanghai race weekend also brought major news for the Formula 1 calendar.
Formula 1 confirmed that the Bahrain Grand Prix and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix have been cancelled due to the escalating conflict involving Iran in the region.
The cancellations remove both April races from the calendar and create an unusual early-season gap.
After the next round in Japan, the championship will pause for nearly five weeks before returning at the Miami Grand Prix in early May.
Early Season Picture
Two races into the season, several early trends are emerging.
Mercedes appears to have the fastest car on the grid. Ferrari is competitive and capable of fighting for podiums. Red Bull suddenly looks vulnerable, and the new generation of cars continues to produce unpredictable racing.
If Shanghai proved anything, it’s that the 2026 season is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable campaigns in recent memory.
The Stain Sports 