China - Sprint Qualifying

Last week, Mercedes opened the 2026 season with an impressive 1-2. This put them on top of both the Drivers' and the Constructors' standings. If they want to keep the positions going into each week, they need to show that China suits them just as well as Australia did. This time, everything starts with the sprint qualifying 

The first qualifying session, only 12 minutes long, began with Isack Hadjar setting the benchmark time. His effort was quickly beaten by those of other drivers. Ferraris temporarily secured the first two positions, but the fight shifted once Mercedes entered the playing field. On the other side of the standings, many drivers were desperately fighting for times that would be good enough to let them make it into SQ1. As is often the case in China, the last corner caused trouble for a few of them, with both Gabriel Bortoleto and Oliver Bearman losing their laps right before crossing the finish line. Still, neither of them ended up in the elimination zone. It was made up by Carlos Sainz, Alex Albon, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas, and Sergio Perez. The man who qualified 22nd didn't get to leave the garage. 

SQ2 followed a similar structure to the previous session. Despite Charles Leclerc's impressive effort, the two Mercedes snatched the top spots, leaving the rest of the field far behind. Bearman fell victim to the final corner once more, but yet again it was not enough for him to end his day on the track. The same could not be said about Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Ocon, Liam Lawson, Gabriel Bortoleto, Franco Colapinto, and Arvis Lindblad, who made up the bottom six. 

The two Mercedes, two Ferraris, and the Red Bull of Max Verstappen were the only cars to appear on track in the first minute of the session, with others opting for a one-flyer approach. To the surprise of few, the Mercedes quickly jumped to the top, clearly in a league of their own. Although they barely improved on their second attempts, the times they managed on the first turn around the track were enough to secure them with a front-row lockup and to give George Russell his first sprint pole of the season. Lando Norris only had one shot to prove himself and did so by jumping to P3, ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who had previously held the position. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, slid between the two Ferraris in a comfortable P5. 

Order of the grid:

1. George Russell

2. Kimi Antonelli

3. Lando Norris

4. Lewis Hamilton

5. Oscar Piastri

6. Charles Leclerc 

7. Pierre Gasly

8. Max Verstappen

9. Oliver Bearman

10. Isack Hadjar

11. Nico Hulkenberg

12. Esteban Ocon

13. Liam Lawson

14. Gabriel Bortoleto

15. Arvid Lindblad

16. Franco Colapinto

17. Carlos Sainz

18. Alex Albon

19. Fernando Alons

20. Lance Stroll

21. Valtteri Bottas

22. Sergio Perez