Mercedes Dominates Dramatic Shanghai Grand Prix

An intense race weekend in Shanghai delivered surprises, setbacks, and a breakthrough victory. While some teams celebrated success, others faced serious technical problems in the second race of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

(Image credits to @F1 on Instagram)

A Special Weekend in Shanghai

Before the race in Shanghai, the Formula 1 drivers chose to explore Chinese culture, take a moment to relax, and prepare for a weekend full of surprises. Records continued to be broken, this time by the Mercedes team. Despite many saying he was too young and had no place in Formula 1 so early, the Italian driver Kimi Antonelli managed to set a new record. After becoming the youngest driver to start from pole position, Kimi secured his first Formula 1 Grand Prix victory in only his second season. His teammate, George Russell, also finished the race in the same position he started, achieving a double podium that brought Mercedes forty-three points in the constructors’ standings.

(Image credits to @mercedesamgf1 on Instagram)

Problems Before the Start

Unfortunately, not all teams had a good start. The new FIA regulations are still causing issues for those at the back of the grid. Both McLaren drivers failed to make it to the starting grid, leaving row 3 completely empty. This is the second weekend in which Oscar Piastri has not started in the new Formula 1 season, as his car reportedly suffered from hydraulic issues, according to the engineers. While last year Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were fighting for the world title, this year it seems they are struggling just to make it to the start. The situation was no better for Gabriel Bortoleto and Alex Albon, as they also did not start the race. Max Verstappen had a very poor launch, which led to him being overtaken on both sides by other drivers, and although he rejoined the race, he was eventually forced to retire. In total, seven drivers failed to finish the race, including those from the Aston Martin team.

A Race Full of Incidents

The race start was very strong for Ferrari, who seem to have this advantage in every race. Focused on his teammate, Antonelli lost ground and allowed Lewis Hamilton to take the lead, but he quickly regained the position on lap 3. Charles Leclerc also overtook Russell at the start, but like Hamilton, he was later passed as the Mercedes car proved to be faster. After Lance Stroll caused a yellow flag, both Mercedes and Ferrari opted for a double stack pit stop, a move that proved crucial to the final result. Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson, who were in the top ten, could not take advantage of the situation as they pitted one lap later. As a result, Franco Colapinto and Esteban Ocon found themselves in leading positions, engaging in a very intense battle for a higher place.

(Image credits to @mercedesamgf1 on Instagram)

The Fight for the Final Podium Spot

Given the circumstances, the four Mercedes and Ferrari drivers had to make numerous overtakes on their way to the podium. Russell, Leclerc, and Hamilton were locked in a fight for second and third place. After many close battles, George Russell managed, with difficulty, to get past both Leclerc and Hamilton, leaving the two Ferrari drivers to fight for the final podium spot. The battle was full of suspense, both for the fans and the pit crews, who at times thought the two were about to collide. However, Charles and Lewis delivered a display of professionalism and competitive spirit. In the end, Hamilton managed to hold his position, securing his first podium since his move to Ferrari.

Article written by Iuliana Mihai © Iuliana Mihai 2026