Mercedes Dominates Chinese GP Practice as Red Bull Struggles

Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli set a commanding pace in the sole practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix, finishing over seven-tenths clear of their nearest rivals. The session, which sets the stage for the first Sprint Qualifying of the 2026 season, saw reigning champions Red Bull surprisingly off the pace, with Max Verstappen finishing eighth and over 1.8 seconds adrift.

Why it matters:

With only one hour of practice before the competitive Sprint sessions begin, teams have minimal data to dial in their cars for the unique Shanghai circuit. Mercedes' immediate speed suggests they have a strong baseline setup, while Red Bull's significant deficit raises immediate questions about their competitiveness for the rest of the Sprint weekend. The pressure is now on to translate this practice form into a result in the afternoon's Sprint Shootout.

The Details:

• Mercedes Masterclass: George Russell set the fastest time of 1:32.741, with teammate Kimi Antonelli just 0.120 seconds behind in second. Their advantage over the third-fastest McLaren of Oscar Piastri was a substantial 0.731 seconds.
• Red Bull's Low-Key Session: Max Verstappen could only manage eighth, 1.8 seconds off Russell's benchmark. Teammate Isack Hadjar was 13th, indicating a session focused on data gathering or potential setup issues for the championship leaders.
• Midfield Battle: Haas's Oliver Bearman impressed to lead the midfield in seventh, just ahead of Audi's Nico Hulkenberg and Alpine's Pierre Gasly. Williams and Aston Martin appeared to be at the rear of the field on outright pace.
• Session Incidents: The hour was punctuated by several incidents. Alpine's Franco Colapinto spun early and later stopped in the pit lane. Arvid Lindblad's Racing Bulls car retired with a technical issue after just six laps, and Charles Leclerc spun his Ferrari at Turn 6 after a brake lock-up.
• Limited Running: Carlos Sainz (Williams) and Sergio Perez (Cadillac) had severely compromised sessions. Sainz spent 35 minutes in the garage with a data issue, while Perez completed only 13 laps and finished at the bottom of the timesheets.

What's Next:

The focus immediately shifts to Sprint Qualifying (SQ) this afternoon. Teams have no time for major setup changes, making Mercedes the clear favorites for the front row of the Sprint grid.

• The key question is whether Red Bull's practice performance was a true reflection of their pace or a strategic sandbag. Their response in SQ will be closely watched.
• Drivers like Sainz and Lindblad, who missed crucial track time, will be on the back foot heading into the competitive session.
• The result of SQ will set the grid for Saturday's Sprint race, the first of the season, offering the first real points and momentum of the weekend.