ANTONELLI WINS IN CHINA TO BECOME THE 115TH DIFFERENT WINNER IN FORMULA ONE

Formula One rolled into Shanghai for the second race of 2026 with an exciting Sprint Race on the Saturday many hoped for a fight at the front between the Mercedes and the Ferrari drivers and that was certainly delivered. Kimi Antonelli dominated when he took the lead on lap two but the fight between the two Ferrari drivers and George Russell was just what people wanted with the new regulations.

It was a dream start for Lewis Hamilton, the most successful driver around Shanghai who lead into turn one ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc. Once again the Mercedes don't get the best start off the line with Kimi Antonelli dropping to third but is able to get back into second with Russell down to fourth.

As they headed into turn four it was a big spin for Isack Hadjar in the Red Bull as he passes Bearman, but spins after making the move and the Haas just avoids the spinning Red Bull, he carries on but is well down the order.

The pole sitter Antonelli wasn't in second long as on lap two the Italian retakes top spot from Hamilton and leads the race.

It only took ten laps for Lance Stroll to have an issue and stop on the side of the track. This bought out the Safety Car.

Four laps later on lap fourteen we got going again and Antonelli goes clear of second and third - Franco Colapinto stays second ahead of Esteban Ocon in third. Hamilton is up to third at the end of the lap. And then by the very next lap the Ferrari is now second ahead of Colapinto.

On lap thirty four theres contact between Ocon and Colapinto as Ocon attempts a move into the winding first few corners, Ocon takes the brunt of the damage and a ten second time penalty for his troubles. The woes continued for Aston Martin as Fernando Alonso comes in to retire the car due to losing the feeling in his hands from the vibrations in the car.

The final retirement came on lap forty six with four time World Champion Max Verstappen losing power and being forced to retire from the race as Red Bull and Ford get to grips with engine reliability.

It wasn't just during the race we had drivers dropping like flies with four drivers not even making the start of the race, Alex Albon in the Williams with a hydraulic issue, Gabriel Bortoleto in the Audi for an unknown issue but more unexpectedly BOTH McLaren's failed to start a race for the first time since Indianapolis in 2005.

Antonelli becomes the first different driver to win a race since Lando Norris in Miami 2024.

The next race is the Japanese Grand Prix.

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