Chinese Grand Prix Viral Video: Kimi Antonelli handed a 10-second time penalty as the Mercedes driver slipped to 5th from the front row; Watch here

Chinese Grand Prix: George Russell won a sprint for Mercedes on Saturday (March 14, 2026) at the Chinese Grand Prix, with the first 100km dash in the new era of Formula One witnessing a late safety car and multiple lead changes. During the race, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli was at the front row, but served a 10-second penalty for causing an earlier collision, eventually ending the race at the fifth position.

Kimi Antonelli has been handed a 10-second time penalty

Antonelli had a poor start and was handed a 10-second time penalty by the FIA stewards during the sprint race at the Shanghai International Circuit for causing a collision on the opening lap of the sprint, according to reports.

According to online platform Racing News 365, the second Mercedes driver was on the inside of Isack Hadjar through Turn 6 when the two cars touched, pushing the Red Bull driver wide. Antonelli dropped from the front row alongside pole-siter Russell all the way down to seventh and eventually he went on to finish at P5 and Hadjar finished at 15th spot.

Chinese Grand Prix: Final Standings

Russell grabbed the first spot. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was second and his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who won the sprint in Shanghai 12 months ago, crossed the line third to complete the podium.

World champion Lando Norris was fourth in his McLaren and his teammate Oscar Piastri sixth. Liam Lawson in his RB and Oliver Bearman in the Haas were seventh and eighth respectively to round out the points scorers.