Kimi Antonelli Makes History in Shanghai

It is the Monday after a historic Chinese Grand Prix, and the paddock is still vibrating—partly from the excitement of a new era, and partly from the brutal reality of the 2026 regulations.

While driver opinions on the "Manual Override" tactics remain a mixed bag, there is total unanimity on one front: a massive congratulations to Kimi Antonelli from all the F1® drivers on the Grid.

By converting his record-breaking pole into a composed victory, Kimi has become the youngest ever F1® race winner at just 19 years and 202 days, displacing Max Verstappen’s long-standing record. From everyone at Senate Grand Prix, congratulations Kimi—may this be the first of many.

The Silver Arrows Smile

Toto Wolff’s grin is wider than the Shanghai back straight. With two wins from two races, Mercedes is firmly the benchmark. 

George Russell leads the championship with 51 points, but Kimi is breathing down his neck, just four points behind. 

Even Lewis Hamilton is caught up in the "Year of the Horse" spirit, securing his first Ferrari podium and declaring the 2026 cars the "best evolution" of racing he has ever experienced.

Despair and Disruption

However, the "Great Reset" has been a nightmare for some. 

Seven teams suffered DNFs or DNS heartbreaks. 

Max Verstappen’s frustration boiled over after a cooling failure ended his recovery drive. 

At the same time, Oscar Piastri has the unwanted distinction of not finishing a single Grand Prix yet in 2026 due to McLaren’s electrical woes.

The pressure is compounding at Aston Martin. 

Adrian Newey’s first Honda-powered challenger is a "disaster" with severe vibration issues, so severe that Fernando Alonso was forced to retire after losing feeling in his hands.

The Haas Hero

On the bright side, Ollie Bearman is the happiest man in the paddock. 

His brilliant P5 finish secured a 10-point haul for Haas, catapulting them to 4th in the Constructors' standings. 

In a season of technical chaos, the young Brit is proving that raw talent still shines through the telemetry.

And as always, when the lights go out and the drama unfolds, here at Senate Grand Prix, there is only one winner, and that's you, the race fans!

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