F1 LIVE | Can Mercedes’ dominance continue? Follow the Chinese GP Sprint race here!

Photo: Race Pictures

03:01, 14 Mar

Updated: 03:30, 14 Mar

byOlly Darcy

The second round of the 2026 season is well underway, and you follow all the latest updates from the Chinese Grand Prix circuit through GPblog’s live coverage of the Sprint Race and qualifying. Stay up to date with everything happening on and off the track, as our editor-in-chief, Tim Kraaij, reports live from the paddock!

A fantastic opening race weekend of the season saw George Russell and Mercedes impress with a commanding win, and that form has continued to the Shanghai International Circuit.

The Brit led the way in a chaotic FP1, the only pratice session of the weekend due to it being a sprint weekend, before moving up the gears to go three-tenths quicker than anyone else in Sprint Qualifying.

It was a Mercedes one-two for the Sprint Race as Kimi Antonelli finished second, while Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton locked out the second row ahead of teammates Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc.

George Russell finished 1.7 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, who could only finish P8 - Photo: Race Pictures

Saturday's running starts with the Sprint Race, before qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix then brings Saturday's proceedings to an end.

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F1 2026 Chinese Grand Prix: Full schedule

The Formula 1 circus heads to Shanghai for the second round of the 2026 season, a weekend that already carries plenty of intrigue. Not only will teams look to understand whether the competitive order seen in Australia will hold up, but the Chinese Grand Prix will also host the first Sprint event of the year.

As was the case in Melbourne, the time difference means European fans will once again have to stay up late to follow the action. However, Sprint Qualifying, Saturday’s qualifying session and Sunday’s race are scheduled at slightly more convenient times compared to last weekend.

See the full schedule of the Chinese GP here.