Lewis Hamilton hailed Kimi Antonelli for changing into the primary teenager to assert a Grand Prix pole place, earlier than turning his focus to formulating a “different tactic” to show his early Mercedes-challenging tempo from the Shanghai Dash right into a stronger lead to Sunday’s full-length race.
Simply over a yr after changing Hamilton as George Russell’s team-mate when the seven-time world champion moved to Ferrari, the 19-year-old Antonelli turned F1’s youngest-ever polesitter on Saturday – beating Sebastian Vettel’s document, which had stood since 2008, by a full 20 months.
Hamilton certified third behind Antonelli and Russell – whose bid for successive Grand Prix poles firstly of the brand new season was compromised by electrical issues – and, after congratulating the younger record-breaker in parc ferme, paid tribute to the Italian teenager when sitting subsequent to him within the post-qualifying press convention.
“I have to say a big congratulations to this big lad here, to Kimi,” stated Hamilton, F1’s record-holder with 104 pole positions.
“It is an incredible achievement to return into… Nicely, he took my seat! And he hit it laborious from the get-go, so it is actually nice to see him progressing and he actually deserves it.
“And a great record. It’s going to take a while for someone to ever get close to that one.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff instructed Sky Sports activities F1: “Many stated the child was too younger, the child was too younger to be in a Mercedes, we should always have ready him in any other case.
“And the kid did good today.”
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Highlights from qualifying for the 2026 Chinese language Grand Prix.
‘I’ve to determine a unique tactic’ – Hamilton vows to be taught Dash classes
Antonelli will now bid to make it third time fortunate from the grid this yr having misplaced floor from second place at each the beginning of final weekend’s Australian Grand Prix and Saturday’s Shanghai Dash.
Against this, Ferrari have made lightning getaways up to now this season with Hamilton on Saturday following team-mate Charles Leclerc’s lead from Melbourne by seizing the lead from Russell on the primary lap of the Dash and duelling with the title favorite over the race’s opening laps.
Nonetheless, having seen his tyre put on undergo and ultimately lose out on second place to Leclerc within the 19-lap sprint, Hamilton instructed Sky Sports activities F1: “I have to figure out a different tactic tomorrow.
“Right this moment was the primary time I used to be in that battle with the power deployment.
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Highlights of the Dash race from the 2026 Chinese language Grand Prix.
“I made some changes to the deployment going into qualifying, which was better for us, and hopefully better for us tomorrow.
“One thing occurs after they get to qualifying, they’re able to eek out extra energy in some way. For us, I’ve to determine one thing completely different as a result of I am unable to kill the tyres like I did right this moment.
“I need to go the distance tomorrow and figure out how I can keep pace, like I did in the last race [in Australia].”
Hamilton, nonetheless chasing his first podium end for the Italian staff heading into his twenty sixth race for them, added within the press convention: “It’s still going to be a challenge, but I’m sure we’ll have some fun.
“I am trying ahead to it. We realized quite a bit within the Dash race, so let’s hope tomorrow will not be as windy as this, and our purpose is to attempt to break the hole between these [Mercedes] guys in some way.”
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Charles Leclerc complained about Lewis Hamilton over the staff radio as Ferrari’s almost contact in Dash on the Chinese language GP.
Ferrari haven’t gained a Grand Prix since October 2024 and, whereas downplaying their possibilities of defeating the Silver Arrows right here, Hamilton remains to be hopeful that “maybe there’s a way” to take action over the 56-lap distance.
“I think it’s highly unlikely that we will be able to beat them in the race. I mean, in our statistics they’ve got some between four and six tenths race pace,” added Hamilton.
“Whether or not we saw that in the first race or not, I think in clear air they’re just above us at the moment.
“So, I do not know, possibly with technique, possibly one thing can occur, possibly with the beginning, possibly there is a method. I positively want to verify I do not kill my tyres making an attempt to both sustain with them or preserve one behind. I must drive higher.”
Can Mercedes maintain off flying Ferraris at begin?
After battery issues had initially floor his W17 to a halt on his out lap in Q3, Russell and Mercedes recovered impressively to safe one other front-row lockout for the staff.
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George Russell stops firstly Q3 after an issue along with his Mercedes.
The Briton remains to be favorite to win Sunday’s race and keep his excellent begin to the season however is cautious of the menace Ferrari’s Hamilton and Leclerc – this time beginning in tandem on the second row – pose to each him and Antonelli once more firstly specifically.
“If we can hold one-two, it will be challenging for them to fight because I do think we have a slight advantage,” Russell instructed Sky Sports activities F1.
“In fact, we cannot do something foolish between us. It is the primary time we now have them each on the second row collectively and we all know how fast we’re off the road.
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Lewis Hamilton leads Dash after thrilling begin on the Chinese language GP.
“If we are one-two after Turn One, I will be happy but I think we all know it won’t be straightforward.”
And Antonelli, who would turn out to be F1’s second-youngest race winner after Max Verstappen have been he to transform pole right into a maiden victory, stated: “[Ferrari] actually look very robust, particularly additionally on chilly tyres.
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The thrilling finish to Chinese language GP qualifying as Kimi Antonelli claimed pole place.
“They look like they’ve got good pace, but of course also the start is a very strong point of theirs. So yeah, just going to try to have a clean start and then we’ll see from there.”
Sky Sports activities F1’s Chinese language GP schedule
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A glance again on the wildest moments caught on the onboard cameras on the Chinese language Grand Prix
Sunday March 15
2.35am: F1 Academy Race 2*
5.30am: Chinese language GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*
9am: Chinese language GP response: Chequered Flag*
10am: Ted’s Pocket book*
*Additionally on Sky Sports activities Primary Occasion
Components 1 is in Shanghai for the primary Dash weekend of the 2026 season on the Chinese language Grand Prix, reside on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
