George Russell secured the top position in the first practice session for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, showcasing a strong performance for Mercedes. His lap time of 1:32.741 at the Shanghai International Circuit edged out teammate Kimi Antonelli by 0.120 seconds.
Mercedes Dominates the Chinese GP Practice
Continuing their impressive form from the season opener in Australia, Mercedes drivers demonstrated superior pace. Lando Norris, the reigning world champion, finished third, 0.555 seconds behind Russell. His McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, followed closely in fourth place, only 0.731 seconds off the pace.
Ferrari Struggles with Pace
Ferrari faced challenges during the practice session. Despite using their new ‘macarena’ rear wing, Charles Leclerc could only manage fifth place, more than eight-tenths off Russell. Lewis Hamilton, another prominent driver in the session, finished sixth, 1.3 seconds behind the leader.
Eventful Moments for Hamilton
Hamilton’s practice session was particularly eventful. He collided with Norris at Turn 16, leading to a brief spin at Turn 6. This incident resulted in a flat spot on his tyres, forcing him to switch to soft compounds earlier than planned.
Driver Performance Overview
| Position | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:32.741 |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.120 |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.555 |
| 4 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.731 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.858 |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +1.388 |
| 7 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | +1.685 |
| 8 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +1.800 |
Other Notable Performances
Max Verstappen and Oliver Bearman completed the top eight. Verstappen was 1.8 seconds off the leading time. Meanwhile, British rookie Arvid Lindblad experienced technical difficulties, completing only six laps before his car stopped.
Aston Martin’s performance improved slightly, but Fernando Alonso’s best time still left him three seconds behind the leader. On the other hand, Carlos Sainz faced delays due to technical issues in his Williams.
Upcoming Schedule
The Chinese GP weekend will include the following key sessions:
- F1 Academy Qualifying: March 13, 6:00 AM
- Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying: March 13, 7:30 AM
- Chinese GP Sprint: March 14, 3:00 AM
- Chinese GP Qualifying: March 14, 7:00 AM
- Chinese Grand Prix: March 15, 7:00 AM
Viewers can follow the events live on Sky Sports F1. The excitement builds as drivers prepare for the sprint race and the main event in Shanghai.
