skysports - 3/13/2026 10:36:29 AM - GMT (+2 )
George Russell continued his imperious start to the 2026 Formula 1 season by comfortably beating his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli to pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint.
After winning last weekend's season opener in Australia, Russell topped all three segments of the shorter-format qualifying at the Shanghai International Circuit, with his time of 1:31.520s putting him almost three tenths clear of Antonelli.
McLaren's Lando Norris was the best of the rest but the reigning world champion was six tenths off Russell's time as he edged out Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton for third.
Norris could yet be promoted to the front row with Antonelli facing a post-session investigation for impeding the Brit during SQ2, which could result in a three-place grid penalty.
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The third row will also be McLaren-Ferrari as Oscar Piastri took fifth ahead of Charles Leclerc, who appeared to be on course for third place before blowing his first flying lap in SQ3 with an error.
A frustrated Max Verstappen could only manage eighth for Red Bull as the four-time world champion was surprisingly beaten to seventh by Alpine's Pierre Gasly.
There was a further blow for Red Bull as Haas' Oliver Bearman beat Verstappen's team-mate Isack Hadjar to ninth.
More to follow...
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) George Russell | Mercedes | 1:31.520 |
| 2) Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.289 |
| 3) Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.621 |
| 4) Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +0.641 |
| 5) Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.704 |
| 6) Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +1.008 |
| 7) Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +1.368 |
| 8) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +1.735 |
| 9) Oliver Bearman | Haas | +1.889 |
| 10) Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | +2.203 |
| Knocked out in Q2 | ||
| 11) Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | 1:33.635 |
| 12) Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:33.639 |
| 13) Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:33.714 |
| 14) Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 1:33.774 |
| 15) Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 1:34.048 |
| 16) Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:34.327 |
| Knocked out in Q1 | ||
| 17) Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:34.761 |
| 18) Alex Albon | Williams | 1:35.305 |
| 19) Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:35.581 |
| 20) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:36.151 |
| 21) Sergio Perez | Cadillac | 1:37.378 |
| 22) Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | no time set |
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Saturday March 14
2.25am: Chinese GP Sprint build-up*
3am: CHINESE GP SPRINT*
4.30am: Ted's Sprint Notebook*
5.30am: F1 Academy Race 1*
6.30am: Chinese GP Qualifying build-up*
7am: CHINESE GP QUALIFYING*
9am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday March 15
2.35am: F1 Academy Race 2*
5.30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*
9am: Chinese GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
10am: Ted's Notebook*
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Shanghai for the first Sprint weekend of the 2026 season at the Chinese Grand Prix from this Friday, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
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