Kimi Antonelli Sets New Records at Chinese GP with Historic Victory
Kimi Antonelli's Remarkable Achievement
Kimi Antonelli made headlines by breaking multiple world records after clinching victory at the Chinese Grand Prix on March 15. This win marked Mercedes' impressive start to the 2026 season, with two wins in as many races. Following George Russell's triumph in Melbourne, the two drivers swapped positions in Shanghai, where Antonelli secured pole position and finished the race over five seconds ahead of Russell. The 19-year-old's victory came with a staggering 25-second lead over Lewis Hamilton, marking his first career win in Formula 1, achieved in just his second season.
Kimi Antonelli Makes History
In addition to winning the race and securing pole position, Antonelli also recorded the fastest lap at 1:35:275, completing a rare hat trick as the first teenager to do so. This remarkable achievement makes him the youngest driver in the sport's history to accomplish this feat, breaking a record that had stood for nearly 17 years, previously held by a four-time world champion.
Youngest F1 Hat-Tricks
| Driver | Team | Age | Race |
| Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 19 years, 202 days | 2026 Chinese GP |
| Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull | 21 years, 353 days | 2009 British GP |
| Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 23 years, 363 days | 2021 French GP |
| Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 24 years, 176 days | 2022 Australian GP |
| Jim Clarke | Lotus | 26 years, 105 days | 1962 Belgian GP |
Antonelli nearly achieved a Grand Slam, which includes winning the race, pole position, fastest lap, and leading every lap. He was only one lap short of this historic accomplishment, as Hamilton led the race briefly before Antonelli reclaimed the lead. Additionally, Antonelli is now the youngest driver to win a race in China, surpassing Vettel's previous record of 21 years and 287 days set in 2009. He also outperformed teammate Russell's record of 24 years and 271 days to become the youngest Mercedes driver to win a race. Overall, he is the second teenager and the second youngest driver in F1 history to win a race, following Max Verstappen, who won the 2016 Spanish GP at 18 years and 228 days. Earlier in the season, Antonelli had already set the record for being the youngest pole-sitter in the sport's history, a title previously held by Vettel since the 2008 Italian GP.