George Russell Claims Sprint Pole at 2026 Chinese Grand Prix

George Russell secures sprint pole for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris in Shanghai.

Notifikasi

Jean Martin 13 March 2026, 19:49

Add us as preferred source

George Russell Claims Sprint Pole at 2026 Chinese Grand Prix

TO NEWS OVERVIEW

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - George Russell claimed sprint pole position for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix after a commanding performance in sprint qualifying at the Shanghai International Circuit for Mercedes.

Russell set a lap of 1:31.520 during his first run in SQ3, immediately establishing a benchmark that none of his rivals could beat. The British driver finished 0.360 seconds ahead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli, securing a front-row lockout for Mercedes.

Antonelli improved slightly during his second attempt, but Russell’s earlier lap remained untouched as the session concluded. Behind the Mercedes duo, Lando Norris placed third for McLaren, pushing Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari down to fourth position.

Why George Russell Lost Interlagos Qualifying Pace Despite Heartbreaking Telemetry

Norris’s team-mate Oscar Piastri completed the top five, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured sixth place on the grid for the sprint race.

Further down the order, Pierre Gasly finished seventh for Alpine, with reigning world champion Max Verstappen qualifying eighth for Red Bull Racing.

However, the provisional results remain subject to change. Antonelli is currently under investigation by the stewards for allegedly impeding Norris during the session, while Gasly is also facing scrutiny after an incident involving Verstappen.

With the Chinese Grand Prix operating under the sprint format this weekend, the sprint qualifying results determine the starting grid for the sprint race scheduled ahead of the main grand prix.

Sprint Qualifying Results – 2026 Chinese Grand Prix INFO

POS	RIDER / TEAM	TIME / GAP	PTS/LAP
1	George RussellMercedes	1:31.520 Britania Raya	- -
2	Kimi AntonelliMercedes	1:31.809 Italia	- -
3	Lando NorrisMcLaren	1:32.141 Britania Raya	- -
4	Lewis HamiltonFerrari	1:32.161 Britania Raya	- -
5	Oscar PiastriMcLaren	1:32.224 Australia	- -
6	Charles LeclercFerrari	1:32.528 Monako	- -
7	Pierre GaslyAlpine	1:32.888 Prancis	- -
8	Max VerstappenRed Bull	1:33.254 Belanda	- -
9	Oliver BearmanHaas	1:33.409 Britania Raya	- -
10	Isack HadjarRed Bull	1:33.723 Prancis	- -
11	Nico HulkenbergAudi	1:33.635 Jerman	- -
12	Esteban OconHaas	1:33.639 Prancis	- -
13	Liam LawsonRacing Bulls	1:33.714 Selandia Baru	- -
14	Gabriel BortoletoAudi	1:33.774 Brasil	- -
15	Arvid LindbladRacing Bulls	1:34.048 Britania Raya	- -
16	Franco ColapintoAlpine	1:34.327 Argentina	- -
17	Carlos SainzWilliams	1:34.761 Spanyol	- -
18	Alexander AlbonWilliams	1:35.305 Thailand	- -
19	Fernando AlonsoAston Martin	1:35.581 Spanyol	- -
20	Lance StrollAston Martin	1:36.151 Kanada	- -
21	Valtteri BottasCadillac	1:37.378 Finlandia	- -
22	Sergio PerezCadillac	- Meksiko	- -