Event

Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying


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Date
Fri 13th March 2026 (UTC)
Fri 13th March 2026 (Local)

Timestamp
2026-03-13T07:30:00

Time
timezone flag 07:30:00 UTC (15:30:00 Local)

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League
Formula 1

Season
2026

Round
2

Status
Match Finished

Location
venue thumbnailShanghai International Circuit





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Event Statistics


Description search icon English Flag
The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix introduces the first Sprint Qualifying session of the new regulatory era, a high-stakes 44-minute knockout format that determines the grid for Saturday’s Sprint race. The strategic narrative for the session at the Shanghai International Circuit centers on the rapid evolution of the track surface, which has been sparsely used in recent years. The primary hurdle for the drivers is the "one-shot" nature of the SQ3 segment; with the new active aerodynamics and power unit recovery systems, timing the deployment of electrical energy across the 1.2km back straight is a mechanical necessity for a pole-position lap.

The headline story focuses on the battle between Mercedes and McLaren, as the Brackley-based team looks to confirm the dominance seen in Practice 1. Strategically, teams must decide whether to save a fresh set of the mandatory Medium tires for the Sprint itself or use them to guarantee a spot in the top ten. For local fans, the focus remains on whether the midfield can exploit the unpredictable grip levels to disrupt the established order and secure a high-priority starting spot for the points-paying Sprint.
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Reports


Result List
Transparent Spacer01 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon George Russell1:31.520
Transparent Spacer02 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Andrea Kimi Antonelli1:31.809
Transparent Spacer03 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Lando Norris1:32.141
Transparent Spacer04 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Lewis Hamilton1:32.161
Transparent Spacer05 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Oscar Piastri1:32.224
Transparent Spacer06 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Charles Leclerc1:32.528
Transparent Spacer07 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Pierre Gasly1:32.888
Transparent Spacer08 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Max Verstappen1:33.254
Transparent Spacer09 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Oliver Bearman1:33.409
Transparent Spacer10 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Isack Hadjar1:33.723
Transparent Spacer11 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Nico Hulkenberg1:33.635
Transparent Spacer12 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Esteban Ocon1:33.639
Transparent Spacer13 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Liam Lawson1:33.714
Transparent Spacer14 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Gabriel Bortoleto1:33.774
Transparent Spacer15 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Arvid Lindblad1:34.048
Transparent Spacer16 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Franco Colapinto1:34.327
Transparent Spacer17 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Carlos Sainz Jr1:34.761
Transparent Spacer18 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Alexander Albon1:35.305
Transparent Spacer19 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Fernando Alonso1:35.581
Transparent Spacer20 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Lance Stroll1:36.151
Transparent Spacer21 Player Cutout thumb Team Badge iconTeam equipment thumbnailFlag icon Valtteri Bottas1:37.378


Result Description
Sprint Qualifying concluded with a historic result as George Russell claimed Sprint Pole with a 1:31.520, leading a dominant Mercedes 1-2. The strategic narrative of the afternoon was the rise of the next generation, as Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured second place, becoming the youngest driver to start on a front row in F1 history at just 19 years old. The primary hurdle for the field was the widening gap to the Silver Arrows; Lando Norris finished in third but was over six-tenths of a second behind Russell's blistering pace.

Tactically, the session was a nightmare for Red Bull Racing, as Max Verstappen struggled significantly with the RB22's driveability, labeling the car "undriveable" before ending up in P8. Ferrari managed to split the McLarens, with Lewis Hamilton taking P4 ahead of Oscar Piastri in P5, while Charles Leclerc settled for P6. Further down the grid, Sergio Perez failed to set a representative time due to a fuel pump issue in his Cadillac-powered car, though he was later granted permission by the stewards to start the Sprint from the back of the grid.

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Potential Filename

plex icon Formula 1 2026-03-13 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying.mkv
kodi icon Formula 1 2026-03-13 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying.S2026E2.mkv
kodi icon (Scraper) Formula 1 2026-03-13 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying.mkv


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