Formula 1, Sportrik Media - George Russell will lead the field at the start of the Sprint race for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix after the Mercedes driver secured pole position during Sprint Qualifying at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Russell has topped every session held so far during the Shanghai weekend and will aim to continue that form in the first Sprint race of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The British driver arrives in China with strong momentum following his victory at the Australian Grand Prix.
The Sprint race will cover 19 laps, roughly one-third of the full Grand Prix distance. Reigning champion Lando Norris will start from third place for McLaren alongside Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, while four-time world champion Max Verstappen lines up eighth for Red Bull Racing.
Sprint races award points to the top eight finishers and often influence the competitive momentum heading into the main qualifying session and the Grand Prix itself.
Below is the full session schedule for the 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit.
F1 Schedule – 2026 Chinese Grand Prix
| Session | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Friday, 13 March | 10:30 – 11:30 |
| Sprint Qualifying | Friday, 13 March | 14:30 – 15:14 |
| Sprint Race | Saturday, 14 March | 10:00 – 11:00 |
| Qualifying | Saturday, 14 March | 14:00 – 15:00 |
| Race | Sunday, 15 March | 14:00 – 16:00 |
The Sprint race in Shanghai marks the first short-format event of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with teams aiming to collect valuable championship points before attention shifts to the main qualifying session and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
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