Teenager Kimi Antonelli took his first Formula 1 victory as he led team-mate George Russell home in a Mercedes one-two at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old Italian became the second youngest grand prix winner in history, a day after becoming the youngest pole-sitter, with a controlled drive after briefly losing the lead at the start to Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari.
Only Max Verstappen, who won for the first time aged 18 at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, has taken the chequered flag in F1 at a younger age than Antonelli.
Antonelli fought back tears and struggled for words during his post-race interview as the enormity of the moment sunk in.
Russell’s second place ensures he keeps the championship lead, by four points from Antonelli, after a race compromised by losing positions following an early safety car.
Behind them, Hamilton and Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc staged a gripping duel for the first two-thirds of the race.
They swapped positions multiple times at various points in the race before Hamilton finally secured his first podium finish for Ferrari since joining them at the start of last season. (BBC Sport)
The post Antonelli wins Chinese GP as McLarens fail to start appeared first on nationnews.com.
