F1 LIVE | Hamilton fears 'huge gap' to Mercedes, as Verstappen mocks F1 2026 with Nintendo joke

Last weekend’s Australian Grand Prix confirmed Mercedes’ dominance, very much in line with expectations, as George Russell and Kimi Antonelli secured an emphatic one-two finish that was never seriously under threat.

Beyond the sporting outcome, however, the Melbourne race also sparked strong criticism of the new cars and regulations. Several drivers voiced concerns about what they described as an ‘artificial’ style of racing, while the complex energy management required by the new rules often forced cars to slow noticeably even while running at full throttle.

On paper, the Shanghai International Circuit should produce a more traditional style of racing, with less reliance on battery deployment. That could translate into less visible clipping and reduced lift-and-coast phases. The long back straight, however, still remains a potential question mark from an energy management perspective.

The Formula 1 circus now 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.