Andrea Kimi Antonelli Leads Build-Up to 2026 Chinese GP Start Time

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Andrea Kimi Antonelli will start the 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix from the front of the grid at the Shanghai International Circuit. The race marks the second round of the 2026 championship and will take place on Sunday afternoon local time.

Antonelli will face immediate pressure from his Mercedes team-mate George Russell, who lines up alongside him on the front row. Behind them, the two Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc occupy the second row and are expected to challenge for victory in Shanghai.

Meanwhile, it has been a more difficult weekend for Red Bull Racing. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen will start the race from eighth position after a challenging qualifying session.

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The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix will begin at 15:00 local time in Shanghai (CST). This corresponds to 14:00 WIB (Western Indonesian Time), making it a Sunday afternoon race for viewers in Indonesia.

Below is the full Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix weekend schedule converted to WIB.

2026 F1 Chinese Grand Prix Schedule (WIB)

Session	Date	Time (WIB)
Free Practice 1	Friday, 13 March	09:30 – 10:30
Sprint Qualifying	Friday, 13 March	13:30 – 14:14
Sprint Race	Saturday, 14 March	09:00 – 10:00
Qualifying	Saturday, 14 March	13:00 – 14:00
Race	Sunday, 15 March	14:00 – 16:00

With the race starting at 14:00 WIB, teams will face typical Shanghai strategic challenges, including tyre management and pit stop timing. The result of the Chinese Grand Prix will also play a significant role in shaping the early momentum of the 2026 Formula 1 championship before the series moves to the next round.