KIMI ANTONELLI broke down in tears after sealing an emotional maiden Grand Prix win in China.
Meanwhile Lewis Hamilton was over the moon after bagging his first ever podium for Ferrari as he came third behind George Russell.
Italian 19-year-old Antonelli dominated from start to finish to become the second youngest F1 race winner behind Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman achieved that feat in 2016 at the age of 18 years, 7 months and 15 days, pipping Sebastian Vettel’s previous record.
Bologna-born Antonelli has also become the first Italian to win a race in 20-years.
A tearful Kimi Antonelli said: “I said yesterday I really wanted to bring Italy back on top and we did it today
“Even though I gave myself a little bit of a heart attack towards the end with a bit of a flat spot, but it was a good race.
“I’m speechless. I’m about to cry to be honest. Thank you so much to my team. They helped me to achieve this dream.”
Seven-time world champion Hamilton said: “I’m so, so happy for you buddy.”
It was an epic drive from Hamilton who looks as though he has banished the demons of a woeful first campaign with Ferrari.
In his first year with the Italian team he did not stand on the podium all season and was out-qualified and out-scored by teammate Leclerc.
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Drama erupted before the race had even started as both McLarens were left OUT of the race.
Norris’s car, which was meant to start in sixth, missed the usual pre-race reconnaissance laps, as his team raced to fix an electrical issue and start from the pit-lane.
Things went from bad to worse when Piastri’s car – fifth on the grid – was wheeled into the garage just five minutes before lights out.
The Australian’s car had encountered a different electrical issue.
Neither problem was fixed in time and McLaren did not take part in round two of the 2026 season.
It means Piastri has not taken part in a single Grand Prix so far this season after his crash on the Melbourne formation lap.
British 41-year-old Hamilton drove fiercely from the get go and was even in the lead at the start going into Turn One.
Charles Leclerc, who finished in fourth, was snapping at the heels of Antonelli who had started on pole.
It was a gripping battle between the two Ferraris who swapped positions multiple times throughout the race.
The two Mercedes ran together at the front until a safety car was deployed by the retirement of Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin, which stopped in the run-off area at Turn Two.
The top four all pitted but Russell’s chances of victory fell from his clutches as his tyres were too cold after the restart
He suffered a series of snaps through the final corners and lost positions to the two Ferraris.
Russell dealt with Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto but he was stuck behind the Ferraris for a further 14 laps.
By the time Russell dispatched them into second place on lap 29, Antonelli was flying and nearly seven seconds ahead.
There was a nerve jangling moment for Antonelli when he had a heavy lock-up at the end of the back straight with three laps to go, but he kept his cool to soar over the line 5.5 seconds ahead.
It was a brilliant day for Essex-born Ollie Bearman who took fifth for Haas.
It was misery for Max Verstappen who did not finish the race after he was forced to retire his car on lap 46.
After another poor start because of the car, Verstappen was running in sixth place behind Bearman.
He joined Aston Martin strugglers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll with a DNF while Piastri, Norris, Gabriel Bortoleto and Alex Albon didn’t even start the race.
