Teenage racing prodigy Kimi Antonelli clinched his first ever Formula 1 victory in a stunning performance that also facilitated teammate George Russell to follow him home ensuring a Mercedes 1-2 finish at the Chinese Grand Prix.
At 19 years old, the Italian prodigy not only became the second youngest person ever to win a Formula 1 race but also created history just one day after he had set the record for the youngest pole-sitter. Only Max Verstappen, who won the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix at 18 years old, has been victorious at an even younger age.
Antonelli was briefly overtaken by Lewis Hamilton after the start, whose Ferrari had an excellent getaway. Nevertheless, the Mercedes rookie was able to reclaim the lead on lap two and afterwards controlled the race.
Russell eventually finished runner-up even though he lost some positions during an early safety-car phase, which means he is still leading the championship by four points over Antonelli.
Apart from them, Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc put on one of the showiest parts of the race with an intense yet clean, side-by-side duel that continued for most of the first two-thirds of the race. Hamilton, in the end, emerged victorious and earned his first podium with Ferrari since joining the team last season.
Antonelli did not get rattled even at the last moment when he locked up his brakes, delivering the last laps in the strongest manner by finishing 5.5 seconds ahead of Russell to ensuring a historic moment for him.
