6 Winners and 5 Losers from the Chinese Grand Prix – who shone in Shanghai?
F1.com's Lawrence Barretto picks out his winners and losers from the first Sprint weekend of the 2026 F1 season.


A first-time winner, a milestone race for a seven-time World Champion and some cracking wheel-to-wheel battles – the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix had plenty going for it. But while many will have left the country in fine spirits, others were left licking their wounds after a bruising weekend. Lawrence Barretto selects his winners and losers from the Shanghai International Circuit.
Winner: Kimi Antonelli
Take a bow Kimi Antonelli. After a frustrating Sprint where he was swallowed up by the field after a difficult start, the Italian recalibrated quickly to become the youngest driver to take pole position for the Grand Prix.
He handled some immense pressure from Lewis Hamilton with aplomb and survived a late lock-up and off-track excursion with a few laps to go to secure his first Grand Prix win.
Next Up
Related Articles
Verstappen baffled after missing out on Austin pole
AS IT HAPPENED: All the action from Qualifying for the US GP
‘We can’t fix core problems' – Albon on Williams' Qualifying
Bemused Wolff celebrates Antonelli’s ‘miracle lap’ in the US
Antonelli seizes pole position for the United States GP
Freddie Hunt on his father James’ ‘incredible’ 1976 title
