Russell leads sole practice session in Shanghai ahead of sprint weekend

George Russell set the fastest time in the only practice session of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend in Shanghai. The Mercedes driver finished ahead of team-mate Kimi Antonelli and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

F1 & MotoGP news to your inbox every day.

The first practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix gave teams only limited time to prepare, as the weekend in Shanghai follows the sprint format. Drivers therefore had just a single one-hour session to work on car setup and prepare for the rest of the weekend.

Teams introduced only a few upgrades in Shanghai. Ferrari attracted the most attention with a modification around the halo area. The team also ran the well-known “Macarena”, the rear wing flap that can rotate by more than 180 degrees.

The beginning of the session was quite eventful. Franco Colapinto was the first to spin. Shortly afterwards, Lewis Hamilton had a very aggressive moment while battling with Lando Norris. Hamilton then spun as well, although the incident was unrelated to the earlier fight.

2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix timetable

Timetable 2026 F1 season F1 China

Not all drivers were able to complete their planned programmes. Carlos Sainz went out later than the others due to telemetry problems and ended up completing only a limited number of laps.

George Russell set the fastest time of the session for Mercedes with a lap of 1:32.741. His team-mate Kimi Antonelli finished second, just 0.120 seconds behind. Lando Norris was third for McLaren, while Oscar Piastri secured fourth place. The best Ferrari driver was Charles Leclerc in fifth.

The flip-flop wing is back! 🩴

Ferrari deploy their innovative active aero solution for the first time on a Grand Prix weekend! 🤩#F1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/BnIfiaAAYo
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 13, 2026

Practice results:

1st – George Russell (Mercedes)
2nd – Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.120
3rd – Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.555
4th – Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.731
5th – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.858
6th – Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +1.388
7th – Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +1.685
8th – Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +1.800
9th – Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – +1.898
10th – Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +1.935
11th – Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – +2.032
12th – Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – +2.087
13th – Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – +2.115
14th – Esteban Ocon (Haas) – +2.136
15th – Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – +2.206
16th – Alexander Albon (Williams) – +2.739
17th – Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +2.938
18th – Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +3.115
19th – Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – +3.316
20th – Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – +4.483
21st – Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – +5.155
22nd – Sergio Perez (Cadillac) – +6.459

Tickets to F1 China available HERE!

James Whitaker

James Whitaker is a British sports journalist with a strong focus on Formula 1 and MotoGP. Known for his clear and engaging style, he delivers the latest news and easy-to-follow analysis from the fast-paced world of motorsport. His work aims to make the complexities of racing accessible to both hardcore fans and casual readers alike. Whether covering the drama of a Grand Prix weekend, breaking down technical developments or highlighting standout performances, James brings a passion for racing and a journalist’s eye for detail to every story he tells.