2026 Chinese Grand Prix

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2026) was a Formula One motor race that was held on 15 March 2026 at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China. It was the second round of the 2026 Formula One World Championship and the first of six Grands Prix in the season to utilise the sprint format.

George Russell (Mercedes) converted pole position in the sprint to a victory. His teammate, 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli, achieved his maiden career pole position, beating Sebastian Vettel's record as the youngest-ever Formula One polesitter. Antonelli converted it to his maiden win, setting multiple milestones; he became the second-youngest Grand Prix winner after Max Verstappen at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, and the first Italian to win a Grand Prix since Giancarlo Fisichella at the 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix. By setting the fastest lap, he also became the youngest driver ever to achieve a hat-trick. Antonelli led a Mercedes 1–2 ahead of Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who achieved his maiden podium with Ferrari. Having gone pointless throughout his 2025 campaign, Franco Colapinto scored his maiden points with Alpine.

The event was held at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai for the 19th time in the circuit's history, across the weekend of 13–15 March.^[4] The Grand Prix was the second round of the 2026 Formula One World Championship and the 19th running of the Chinese Grand Prix.^[5] It was also the first of six Grands Prix in the season to utilise the sprint format and the third time overall that the Chinese Grand Prix will feature it.^[6]

Going into the event, George Russell led the Drivers' Championship with 25 points, 7 points ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli in second, and 10 ahead of Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) in third. Mercedes entered this round as the leaders of the Constructors' Championship with 43 points, 16 from Ferrari and 33 from McLaren, who are second and third, respectively.^[7]

The drivers and teams were the same as published in the season entry list, with no additional stand-in drivers for the race.^[8] The Grand Prix marked the 1,000th entry for McLaren.^[9]

Tyre supplier Pirelli brought the C2, C3, and C4 tyre compounds designated hard, medium, and soft, respectively, for teams to use at the event.^[10]

The only free practice session was held on 13 March 2026, at 11:30 local time (UTC+8), and was topped by George Russell (Mercedes), ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris (McLaren).^[2][11]

Sprint qualifying was held on 13 March 2026, at 15:30 local time (UTC+8), and determined the starting grid order for the sprint.^[2]

As with regular qualifying, the sprint qualifying consisted of three sessions, with the six drivers with the worst lap times being eliminated following each of the first two sessions. For the first two sessions, new medium tyres were mandated, while the third and final session allowed teams to use any set of soft tyres.^[12]

During the twelve-minute long first session (SQ1), Carlos Sainz Jr. and Alexander Albon (both Atlassian Williams) were eliminated, alongside Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll (both Aston Martin), and Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez (both Cadillac), the latter of whom did not set a time during the session.^[12][13][14] The second session (SQ2), which lasted for ten minutes, saw the eliminations of Nico Hülkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto (both Audi), Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad (both Racing Bulls), Esteban Ocon (Haas), and Franco Colapinto (Alpine).^[12][13][14]

The third session (SQ3) lasted for eight minutes, and determined the final order of the remaining ten drivers. George Russell (Mercedes) took pole position ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli, while Lando Norris (McLaren) finished third. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) and Oscar Piastri (McLaren) finished in fourth and fifth, respectively. Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, Max Verstappen, Oliver Bearman, and Isack Hadjar completed the rest of the top ten.^[12][13][14]

Notes

• ^1 – Alexander Albon qualified 18th, but was required to start the sprint from the pit lane as his car was modified under parc fermé conditions.^[16]
• ^2 – Sergio Pérez failed to set a time during sprint qualifying. He was permitted to race in the sprint at the stewards' discretion.^[16]

The sprint was held on 14 March 2026, at 11:00 local time (UTC+8), and was run for 19 laps.^[2]

Notes

• ^1 – Sergio Pérez received a five-second time penalty for a safety car infringement. The penalty made no difference as he was classified in the last position.^[17]

Qualifying was held on 14 March 2026, at 15:00 local time (UTC+8), and determined the starting grid order for the main race.^[2]

Notes

• ^1 – Alexander Albon qualified 18th, but was required to start the race from the pit lane as his car was modified under parc fermé conditions.^[20]

The race was held on 15 March 2026, at 15:00 local time (UTC+8), and was run for 56 laps.^[2]

Prior to the race, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Alexander Albon (the latter due to start from the pit lane) all reported issues with their cars and did not start the race. Norris and Piastri both non-started due to power unit problems. Their non-start made this the first time both McLarens – who as a constructor recorded their 1000th entry in this Grand Prix – did not start the race since the 2005 United States Grand Prix, where 14 cars on Michelin tyres withdrew due to tyre safety concerns.^[21] This also meant Piastri failed to start a second consecutive Grand Prix having crashed on his reconnaissance lap on his way to grid prior to the formation lap of his home Grand Prix in Australia one week earlier. Bortoleto of Audi and Albon of Williams failed to start the race both due to hydraulic problems.

Starting from pole position, Antonelli took his maiden Grand Prix win, surviving a late race error to hold off Mercedes teammate and early Championship leader George Russell, who finished second. It was the first win for an Italian driver in the series since Giancarlo Fisichella at the 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton took his first podium in a full Grand Prix for Ferrari after duelling with teammate Charles Leclerc for a podium place for much of the race.^[22][23]

Notes

• ^1 – Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, Gabriel Bortoleto and Alexander Albon did not start the race due to issues. Their places on the grid were left vacant. Albon was due to start from the pit lane.^[24]

• Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.