Jeremy Clarkson explained Lewis Hamilton's confusion after receiving a good luck message from Richard Hammond, clarifying that on Top Gear, only Clarkson himself met the celebrity guests. Hamilton had appeared on the show twice but never interacted with co-hosts Hammond or James May off-camera.
Toto Wolff has hit back at critics of Mercedes' decision to fast-track Kimi Antonelli to F1, after the 19-year-old became the youngest pole-sitter in history at the Chinese Grand Prix, validating the team's bold strategy.
Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli has made history by becoming the youngest driver ever to secure a Formula 1 pole position at the 2026 Chinese GP, breaking a record Sebastian Vettel held for 18 years. The 19-year-old Italian's achievement leaves Vettel with just one remaining 'youngest-ever' record: world champion.
Max Verstappen qualified a distant eighth for the Chinese GP, launching a blistering critique of his "completely undriveable" Red Bull. He stated setup changes made no difference, every lap felt like survival, and he lacks confidence to push the car, casting serious doubt on Red Bull's competitive form and his race prospects.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, aged 19, made F1 history by becoming the youngest-ever pole-sitter at the Chinese Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes 1-2 ahead of George Russell. Lewis Hamilton qualified third for Ferrari, while Max Verstappen struggled to eighth. The stage is set for a potential maiden win for the Italian phenom.
Kimi Antonelli made history by taking pole for Mercedes in China, breaking teammate George Russell's 2026 qualifying dominance. The Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc line up directly behind on the second row, poised to attack, while Red Bull's struggles continued with Max Verstappen starting only eighth.
Kimi Antonelli makes F1 history by becoming the youngest-ever pole-sitter for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes front row. Ferrari and McLaren fill the next rows, while a struggling Red Bull leaves Max Verstappen starting from eighth position.
Lewis Hamilton alleges Mercedes employs a hidden high-power engine setting, similar to the old 'party mode', specifically for qualifying sessions. The Ferrari driver, using his insider knowledge from his long tenure with the team, claims this explains the large performance gaps that emerge in Q2 and Q3, putting pressure on his new squad to find an answer.
Max Verstappen unleashed fierce criticism of Red Bull's 2026 F1 car after a troubled Chinese GP qualifying, calling it "undriveable" and revealing he hasn't enjoyed it since the first lap of the new regulations. He qualified eighth, nearly a second off pole, and reported that major set-up changes made no difference to the car's unpredictable handling.
Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, 19, made history by becoming F1's youngest-ever pole-sitter at the Chinese GP, edging out teammate George Russell. While aided by Russell's technical issue, the rookie delivered a flawless final lap to break Sebastian Vettel's 16-year record, marking a major step in his development and signaling a potent new threat within the championship-leading team.
Max Verstappen unleashed fierce criticism of his Red Bull after qualifying a shocking eighth in China, describing the car as "awful" and stating every lap feels like "survival." His comments, following a pointless Sprint race, reveal a team unable to solve severe balance and consistency issues despite major setup changes, marking a dramatic fall from grace for the former champions.
Starting third for Ferrari in China, Lewis Hamilton believes his team has narrowed the gap to Mercedes and is targeting a victory challenge, aiming to break their front-running dominance and secure his first podium with the Scuderia.
