New Headline: Kimi Rädrich Dominates India's Racing Circuit in All-Indian Challenge Victory

Antonelli Wins First F1 Race at Chinese Grand Prix NurPhoto - Getty Images Kimi Antonelli controlled the Chinese Grand Prix to pick up his maiden victory in Formula 1 as Mercedes dominated once more, while Lewis Hamilton returned to the podium, and McLaren endured a nightmare. Autoweek rounds up the main talking points from Shanghai. Antonelli delivers on Mercedes faith Mercedes has long had unwavering faith in Kimi Antonelli’s abilities, signing him as a young teenager, putting him in Formula 2 with little experience, and then promoting him straight to Formula 1 to the factory team.

Last year was a learning season, and there were the expected pitfalls and mistakes, perhaps one or two more than both driver and team would have liked. This was the season to kick on, and kick on Antonelli has. George Russell was briefly delayed by the fast-starting Ferraris, but had recovered to second by the time the safety car was deployed for Lance Stroll’s stricken Aston Martin.

At the restart while Antonelli surged clear Russell struggled for grip and fell behind both Ferraris; while Russell eventually reclaimed second by the time he had done so Antonelli had established an insurmountable buffer. A late lock-up into the hairpin provided a scare but it was the only minor blemish as Antonelli claimed a well-deserved maiden win. At the age of 19 he is the second-youngest winner in history, and of the current grid only Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen took fewer grands prix to find the top step of the podium.

Kimi Antonelli and his father, Marco Antonelli. Peter Fox - Getty Images “Right from his days in karting, we have known that he has all the talent necessary to develop into a Grand Prix winner,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. “His family, along with the team, have done a brilliant job nurturing that talent and today shows that.