Mercedes celebrated a one-two finish at the Chinese Grand Prix, with 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli claiming his first F1 victory from pole ahead of George Russell. Lewis Hamilton earned his maiden podium for Ferrari, while McLaren failed to start due to separate electrical issues.
Top Performers:
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Kimi Antonelli – 9: Youngest-ever polesitter and first GP win for the Italian star.
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Lewis Hamilton – 9: Back in form with strong battles against Russell and teammate Charles Leclerc.
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George Russell – 8.5: Recovered from qualifying issues but couldn’t overcome the Ferraris in the race.
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Charles Leclerc – 8: Excellent wheel-to-wheel racing, though a Turn 14 mistake cost a podium spot.
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Oliver Bearman – 9: Outstanding drive in a Haas, now fifth in the drivers’ championship.
Other Notable Performances:
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Pierre Gasly – 8: Consistent points scorer.
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Liam Lawson – 7: Clear of teammate to deliver points in sprint and race.
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Isack Hadjar – 6: Solid but marked down for a spin; competitive against Verstappen.
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Carlos Sainz – 7: Maximized results despite a difficult race.
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Franco Colapinto – 6.5: First points since 2024 with a strong Sunday drive.
Struggles and Midfield:
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Nico Hulkenberg – 5, Arvid Lindblad – 5, Valtteri Bottas – 5, Esteban Ocon – 4, Sergio Perez – 4.5: Mixed results amid car issues and tough weekends.
Lower Ratings:
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Max Verstappen – 6.5: Limited by car, minor setbacks in consecutive starts.
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Fernando Alonso – 6.5: Engine-limited Aston Martin, retired after a strong start.
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Lance Stroll – 3, Gabriel Bortoleto – 3, Alex Albon – 4: Struggled or failed to start.
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Oscar Piastri – 5, Lando Norris – 5: Missed race starts, minor qualifying gaps.
Hamilton shows he still has the edge, Antonelli shines as F1’s next big talent, and the rest of the grid battles for consistency in Shanghai.