Chinese Grand Prix Sprint grid confirmed as FIA hands veteran pit-lane start

The grid for the Sprint race at the Shanghai International Circuit will be led by George Russell, who stormed to pole position with a lap time of 1:31.520 to secure a front-row lockout for Mercedes alongside teammate Kimi Antonelli.

McLaren’s Lando Norris and Scuderia Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton will start from the second row, with their respective teammates Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc lining up directly behind them.

Pierre Gasly, who avoided a penalty, will start seventh, followed by Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen, Oliver Bearman in the Haas and Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull, completing the top 10.

The shake-up to the starting order comes mainly at the tail end of the grid. Albon, who originally qualified 18th for Williams, will now start the Sprint from the pit lane.

The Grove-based outfit elected to make set-up changes to his car under parc fermé conditions. Those changes mean the Thai driver will join Sergio Perez, who did not take part in Sprint qualifying, in starting the race from the pit lane.

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