FORMULA 1 F1 CALENDAR 2026 LEWIS HAMILTON MOTOGP RUMOURS

Red Bull and Mercedes among several F1 teams to break curfew prior to FP1

Photo: Race Pictures

06:28, 13 Mar

byHenry Eccles

The FIA have confirmed that six F1 teams were "within the confines" of the Shanghai International Circuit beyond the thirteenth hour period prior to the start of FP1.

McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Racing Bulls, Alpine and Cadillac were the teams given one of six exceptions permitted to do this for the 2026 F1 season.

Red Bull and Mercedes 'break' curfew in China

The FIA document states:

"Wednesday night team personnel of the McLaren Mastercard F1 Team, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, the VISA Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team, the BWT Alpine Formula One Team and the Cadillac Formula 1 Team who are associated with the operation of the car, were within the confines of the circuit during the thirteen (13) hour period which commenced at 17:30 on 11 March, fourtytwo (42) hours before the scheduled start time of P1 and ends twentynine (29) hours before the scheduled start time of P1 at 06:30 on 12 March."

"This was the first of the six (6) individual exceptions permitted for the McLaren Mastercard F1 Team, the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, the Oracle Red Bull Racing team, the VISA Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One Team, the BWT Alpine Formula One Team and the Cadillac Formula 1 Team during the 2026 Formula One Championship season and therefore no action should be taken."

Logistical delays continue to affect the 2026 Formula 1 season

This news comes after further freight delays affected the Chinese GP, as they did last week in Melbourne.

After the curfew was extended on Thursday ahead of the Australian Grand Prix due to the Middle East conflict, logistical challenges for Pirelli led to changes this Wednesday as well.

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