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Mercedes teenager Antonelli wins maiden grand prix in China / Photo: © AFP
Mercedes teenager Antonelli wins maiden grand prix in China
An emotional Kimi Antonelli won a grand prix for the first time on Sunday in China ahead of Mercedes teammate George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who made his maiden podium for Ferrari.
The 19-year-old Antonelli converted being the youngest pole-sitter in Formula One history into victory after both McLarens dramatically failed to start the Shanghai race.
Antonelli briefly lost the lead at the start but once he got back in front, the teenager controlled the pace to cruise home to the chequered flag. Charles Leclerc was fourth in the second Ferrari.
Hamilton, as he had done in Saturday's sprint, got a great start and had taken the lead by the time the teams emerged from the first complex of turns.
Leclerc also launched brilliantly and managed to get past Russell, who started second on the grid.
The top four swapped places multiple times before a safety car on lap 11 brought them all into the pits.
Once the dust settled and they went racing again, Antonelli led from Hamilton, with Leclerc third and Russell fourth.
By lap 29 Russell had got past both Ferraris and up to second and set off trying to catch his young Italian teammate, who was by now more then seven seconds up the road.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen continued Red Bull's poor start to the new season when he was told to retire his car on lap 46.
Antonelli was in tears at the end as he soaked up victory.
K. Petersen--BTZ
