Summary

  • Antonelli wins; Russell 2nd; Hamilton 3rd

  • Hamilton had led after overtaking both Mercedes off start

  • Ferraris battled for third during race

  • Piastri, Norris, Albon and Bortoleto out before race starts

  • Alonso retires following discomfort from vibrations in Aston Martin

  • Verstappen, Stroll also out

  • Get involved using form below

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Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

  1. Lap 50/56

    Not long to go for Kimi Antonelli as he leads Mercedes team-mate George Russell by 9.3 seconds. The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton is 26secs down the road, with the other Scuderia of Charles Leclerc in fourth and Oliver Bearman doing a great job for Haas in fifth.

  2. Alonso out of race

    Lap 49/50

    So we've lost another car in this Chinese Grand Prix, as Fernando Alonso comes back to the Aston Martin garage over concers about the vibrations from that Honda engine.

    Fernando AlonsoGetty Images

  3. Lap 48/56

    The marker Kimi Antonelli has thrown down now for George Russell to chase is 9.2 seconds. The 19-year-old Italian is inching closer to popping the champagne on the top stop of the podium. Good job this isn't a US race, as he's not old enough to drink.

    Arvid Lindblad has moved to 12th place, with Carlos Sainz still in the points in ninth, but with Franco Colapinto's Alpine in his mirrors in 10th.

  4. Aston Martin have posted on X: "Fernando has retired from the Chinese GP due to discomfort from vibrations."

  5. Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Kimi Antonelli has just set the fastest lap of the race and is really putting a marker down to George Russell.

  6. Verstappen retires

    Lap 47/56

    Max Verstappen is climbing out of the car and the Red Bull crew give him sympathetic looks. The Dutchman said every lap is "survival" in the new car and he just doesn't enjoy these 2026 regulations. His team-mate Isack Hadjar is still on track and in the points in eighth place.

  7. Team radio - Verstappen

    Lap 46/56

    Engineer: "OK mate, let's retire the car please"

  8. Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Max Verstappen is just not able to do anything about the Haas driver of Oliver Bearman. He's been stuck behind him for most of this middle phase of this race.

    As the race comes to the final laps, will we see the four-time world champion make a move on the young Brit?

  9. Lap 45/56

    Mercedes are on for another one-two finish of the 2026 season, with Kimi Antonelli heading towards his first victory in Formula 1.

    Meanwhile, Max Verstappen's miserable time in the Red Bull is about to come to an end...

    Max VerstappenGetty Images

  10. Lap 44/56

    Arvid Lindblad makes a pit stop and the Racing Bulls man comes out on the medium rubber in 15th place. The rookie quickly passes the Cadillac of Valtteri Bottas for 14th and has Esteban Ocon next on his to-do list. Frenchman Ocon was handed a 10-second penalty for that contact with Franco Colapinto earlier.

  11. 'It's absolutely fantastic racing between two of the greatest drivers in F1'

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent

    What a great radio message! It just goes to show that they are competing for third place in a grand prix, they are racing their hearts out and they are giving each other only just enough room. It's absolutely fantastic racing between two of the greatest drivers in Formula 1.

  12. Team radio - Antonelli

    "Ah mate, this traffic is so bad"

  13. Get Involved

    Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    Frank: I'm old enough to have watched Jim Clark, Graham Hill etc. Antonelli has the same smooth driving style as Jackie Stewart had and I wouldn't be surprised to see him go all the way to win the drivers' championship – maybe even this year.

  14. Lap 43/56

    Kimi Antonelli continues to lead this Chinese Grand Prix after becoming the youngest ever polesitter yesterday. The Italian has reached some backmarkers and tells his pit wall the traffic is looking a bit dodgy.

    Kimi AntonelliGetty Images

  15. Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    If you're the lead car it's very difficult to stay in the lead for long periods of time because the car behind has such a pace advantage with extra boost that you can always stay with the car in front.

    We're seeing such a great show between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc and it's great that they are both giving each other room and they are racing fairly.

  16. Top five

    Lap 42/46

    1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

    2. George Russell (Mercedes)

    3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

    4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

    5. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

  17. 'Antonelli looking like a genuine threat to Russell'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Kimi Antonelli is having a really good run here in China and is driving superbly. His second year in Formula 1 remember and last year he came under a little bit of criticism in the mid-part of the season.

    He now looks like a genuine threat to George Russell.

  18. Lap 41/56

    While the Ferraris continue to bruise each other for that final podium place, a ray of light over at Williams, as Carlos Sainz is running in 10th spot. Racing Bulls want that point, though, and working on a strategy to allow Arvid Lindblad to push the Spaniard at the end.

  19. Team radio - Leclerc

    Leclerc: "This is actually quite a fun battle"

    Engineer: "I am glad"

  20. Get Involved

    Select the 'Get Involved' button to have your say

    Ben: This has been some excellent racing, racing that we wouldn't've got under the old regs, now that the effect of dirty air has been reduced. I can't wait to see the rest of the season!

    John: The overtaking looks exciting, but the outcome ultimately feels predictable! I think this regulation works well until the end of lap 10 after which it will be a Mercedes 1-2. Only the safety car mixes things up!