Kimi Antonelli takes historic pole for Chinese GP.
There was an inescapable sense of joy and satisfaction for Kimi Antonelli as he became the youngest pole sitter in Formula One history.
Mar 14 2026
Giles Richards
The Irish Times

Tellingly, there was an air of vindication from his Mercedes principal, Toto Wolff, as the teenage protege came good when it mattered by claiming the top spot for the Chinese Grand Prix. The Italian took pole by beating his older and more experienced team-mate George Russell into second, albeit after the Briton endured a technical problem in Q3 and had time to set only one quick lap.

Antonelli was ecstatic, of course, but Wolff was no less punchy. He had faced criticism after drafting Antonelli straight into Mercedes last season but on Saturday Antonelli delivered on all that promise and has every chance now to convert it into a debut win on Sunday. “Many said the kid was too young to be in a Mercedes, we should have prepared him otherwise,” Wolff said. “The kid did good today.”

A fair assessment. Antonelli is the youngest driver to take pole at 19 years, six months and 17 days old, beating Sebastian Vettel’s record, which had stood for 18 years since 2008. The youngster, tousled-haired and growing out of his still boyish looks, had to hold his nerve to deliver, especially as Russell’s travails made him the team’s lead shot at the top.

‘Antonelli was ecstatic’;

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/202...or-chinese-gp/


Chinese Grand Prix - Qualifying results
14/03/2026
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Qualifying results
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1 Andrea Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 1:33.305s 1:32.443s 1:32.064s
2 George Russell Mercedes 1:33.262s 1:32.523s 1:32.286s
3 Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 1:33.522s 1:32.567s 1:32.415s
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:33.175s 1:32.486s 1:32.428s
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:33.590s 1:33.130s 1:32.550s
6 Lando Norris McLaren 1:33.535s 1:32.910s 1:32.608s
7 Pierre Gasly Alpine 1:33.788s 1:33.003s 1:32.873s
8 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:33.417s 1:33.098s 1:33.002s
9 Isack Hadjar Red Bull 1:33.632s 1:33.352s 1:33.121s
10 Oliver Bearman Haas 1:33.687s 1:33.197s 1:33.292s

‘Qualifying results’;

https://f1i.com/news/561073-chinese-...results-2.html


F1 Qualifying Press Conference - China GP 2026 | Antonelli, Russell, Hamilton
Mar 14, 2026
Formula 1 Info

Kimi Antonelli, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton F1 Press Conference

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3FQcJaeH8o


Russell survives ‘chaos’ to steal front-row start in China
14 Mar 2026
Mat Coch
PlanetF1.com

George Russell salvaged a front-row start for Sunday’s Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix after a chaotic qualifying session threatened to derail his challenge. The Mercedes driver headed into qualifying favourite for pole, having taken top spot in the Sprint earlier in the day, but was unable to best teammate Kimi Antonelli.

“It was as good as I could have achieved,” Russell said of his effort, which left him second on the grid, two-tenths down on his teammate. I had no battery at the start of the lap, and my tyres were cold. But, I’m very grateful to be sat here right now. It was more a case of getting the time on the board.”

“I knew Kimi has been really strong, and things were far from optimised on my side, so it was more a case of get the car across the line and make sure I’m starting in a sensible position. P2 was much better than I expected when I started a lap with no battery and no tyre temperature, I was expecting to be further down the order.”

‘Chaos’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/george...des-chinese-gp


Max Verstappen blasts Red Bull car after nightmare Chinese GP qualifying
The Red Bull driver says every lap feels like survival after qualifying struggles in Shanghai
14 March 2026
John Smith
Total Motorsport

Max Verstappen delivered a brutally honest verdict on Red Bull’s difficult start to the Chinese Grand Prix weekend after qualifying only eighth on the grid, describing the RB22 as “undriveable” and admitting that driving it feels like “survival”.

“We changed a lot on the car, and it makes zero difference,” Verstappen explained after qualifying. “The whole weekend we have been off. The car is completely undriveable. I cannot even put a bit of a reference in. Every lap is like survival. The balance is really disconnected. I cannot push at all because the car does not let me,” Verstappen said.

“That is why I do not feel in control of the car. It is just really not how it should be. From lap one of this new regulation I have not enjoyed this car,” Verstappen admitted. “The battery was fine,” Max Verstappen said. “But I did not get enough power from the engine. I basically had the same problem as what Liam Lawson had more or less in Australia. I think I will finish where I am at,” Verstappen said.

‘Brutally honest verdict’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/max...le-chinese-gp/


Ted recaps quali as Antonelli makes history ⭐️ | Ted's Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying Notebook
Mar 14, 2026
Sky Sports F1

Ted Kravitz gives his thoughts and insights on the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying, as Kimi Antonelli made history as the youngest F1 pole-sitter at 19.

‘Ted’;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdCd-GGMsOA