Chinese GP Practice: Mercedes Dominates as Russell Leads Antonelli

George Russell led a Mercedes 1-2 ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli in the sole practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix, the first sprint weekend of the 2026 Formula 1 season. McLaren's Lando Norris was best of the rest in third, while reigning champion Max Verstappen could only manage eighth for Red Bull, over 1.8 seconds off the pace.

Why it matters:

The session provides the first concrete data point for the 2026 season's competitive order at a sprint event, where limited practice time makes every lap crucial. Mercedes' commanding margin suggests they have carried their strong pre-season testing form into the first race weekend, potentially establishing themselves as the early benchmark. Conversely, Red Bull's significant deficit raises immediate questions about their package's performance at the Shanghai International Circuit.

The details:

• Mercedes Mastery: The Brackley team locked out the top two positions, with Russell's 1m29.456s lap setting the standard. Rookie teammate Antonelli, in just his third official F1 session, was impressively close, just 0.120s behind.
• McLaren in the Mix: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured third and fourth, showing McLaren is likely Mercedes' closest challenger at this track, though a gap of over half a second remains.
• Ferrari's Gap: Charles Leclerc was fifth, nearly nine-tenths off Russell, with Lewis Hamilton a further half-second back in sixth, indicating Ferrari may be fighting in the second tier initially.
• Red Bull Struggles: Max Verstappen's eighth place, 1.8 seconds adrift, was the standout surprise. The session suggests the RB22 is struggling for one-lap pace around Shanghai, a worrying sign ahead of the sprint qualifying shootout.
• Midfield Notes: Haas's Ollie Bearman was an impressive seventh, while the Audi pair of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto landed in the top 12. Williams and Aston Martin appeared to be at the rear of the field.

What's next:

All eyes turn to Sprint Qualifying, where teams have just one session to perfect their setups before the competitive action begins. The pressure is immense, especially for teams like Red Bull who need to find performance quickly. With parc ferme rules locking in car configurations after this session, the grid for Saturday's Sprint race could solidify early hierarchies—or provide a major shock if a team has hidden its true pace.

• The single practice session offers limited data, meaning some teams may have been running different engine modes or fuel loads, clouding the true picture.
• Mercedes will aim to convert their practice pace into a front-row lockout for the Sprint, while Red Bull's engineers face a frantic night of analysis to unlock more speed from the RB22.