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Chinese Grand Prix 2026: A Teenage Dream and a McLaren Nightmare

-F1ELO admin

Uh-oh: The "Did Not Start" Club

Before we even got to the lights, we had a disaster on our hands.

If you thought McLaren had a bad time in Melbourne, hold my drink. Neither Lando Norris (Rating: 5.8/10) nor Oscar Piastri (Rating: 5.7/10) even made it to the start line. Two separate electrical issues on the power units meant the reigning champions were watching the race on TV in their team jackets.

Add Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi, Rating: 4.9/10) and Alex Albon (Williams, Rating: 4.7/10) to the list of "people who had a very short Sunday," and we were down to a 16-car grid before the formation lap even finished.

This Kid is Alright: Antonelli's Maiden Win

Kimi Antonelli - Rating: 9.4/10

Toto Wolff’s "big bet" just paid out the jackpot.

The 19-year-old Italian became the second-youngest winner in F1 history, and he did it with the poise of a veteran. He lost the lead at the start to a surging Lewis Hamilton, but he didn't panic. By Lap 2, he was back in front and essentially stayed there.

He gave his engineers a "heart attack" towards the end by flat-spotting a tyre at Turn 14, but he still crossed the line 5.5 seconds clear.

“I’m speechless,” he said after the race. “I really wanted to bring Italy back on top.” Mission accomplished, Kimi.

Red vs. Red: The Ferrari Civil War

While Antonelli was checking out at the front, we got treated to a classic intra-team scrap at Ferrari.

Lewis Hamilton - Rating: 9.2/10

Lewis looked like he’d found the fountain of youth. He jumped into the lead from P3 at the start and spent the rest of the race proving that he is very much "at home" in red. This was his first Grand Prix podium for the Scuderia, and he had to fight tooth and nail for it.

Charles Leclerc - Rating: 7.8/10

Leclerc and Hamilton were side-by-side through the opening turns and swapping positions like they were in a karting race. Leclerc ultimately finished 4th, but he seemed to enjoy the scrap, calling it "actually quite fun" on the radio. It’s all smiles for now, but how long will that last?

The Best of the Rest

Oliver Bearman - Rating: 9.1/10

Ollie Bearman is quickly becoming the king of the midfield. Despite having to dodge a spinning Red Bull on Lap 1, he clawed his way back to P5. If he keeps driving like this, that Ferrari seat might have his name on it sooner than we think.

Alpine’s Double Joy

Alpine actually had something to celebrate! Pierre Gasly (Rating: 8/10) put in a tidy shift for P6, while Franco Colapinto (Rating: 7/10) finally broke his point-less streak to finish P10. It wasn't pretty; especially after Esteban Ocon (Rating: 4/10) decided to hit Colapinto into a spin, but points are points.

The Disaster Zone: Red Bull and Aston Martin

Max Verstappen - Rating: 6.4/10

It’s been a horrible weekend for the Dutchman. Between a car that has zero balance and a battery system he clearly loathes, Max spent the afternoon stuck behind a Haas before his engine finally gave up 10 laps from the end. He looked more relieved to retire than disappointed.

Aston Martin - Rating: 4.4/10 (Stroll)

Lance Stroll’s weekend consisted of:

1. Sarcastic "No" answers in interviews.

2. Parking his car at Turn 1.

3. Causing the only Safety Car of the race.

The Aston looks slow, unreliable, and generally miserable to drive.