Kimi Antonelli became the youngest pole-sitter in Formula One history after George Russell was struck down by a gearbox problem in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Russell was still able to take second on the grid as Mercedes secured a second straight front-row lockout, but the world championship leader was restricted to just one flying lap in Shanghai after he stopped on track with mechanical gremlins in the early part of Q3.
Russell emerged from his garage with just two minutes remaining, but he could not match team-mate Antonelli’s lap with the Italian ending the session 0.222 seconds clear. Antonelli, aged 19 years, six months and 18 days, breaks Sebastian Vettel’s 18-year record as the youngest driver to take top spot in qualifying. Vettel was 21 years, two months and 11 days when he stormed to pole at the Italian Grand Prix in 2008.
Lewis Hamilton finished third in his Ferrari, one place ahead of Charles Leclerc in the other scarlet car. Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris will line up in fifth and sixth respectively for McLaren. Max Verstappen qualified eighth, nine tenths off the pace.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Chinese Grand Prix.
What is the starting grid for the Chinese GP?
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 1:32:064
2. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.222
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.351
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.364
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.486
6. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.544
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +0.809
8. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.938
9. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) +1.057
10. Ollie Bearman (Haas) +1.228
Out in Q2
11. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – 1:33:354
12. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 1:33:357
13. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 1:33:538
14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 1:33:765
15. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – 1:33:784
16. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – 1:33:965
Out in Q1
17. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 1:34:317
18. Alex Albon (Williams) – 1:34:772
19. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 1:35:203
20. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – 1:35:436
21. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – 1:35:995
22. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) – 1:36:906
When is the Chinese Grand Prix?
Time GMT
Sunday 15 March
- Race: 7am
How can I watch it online and on TV?
The Chinese Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 5:30am (GMT).
Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action in Shanghai on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
In the United States, every practice, qualifying and race session will be streamed on Apple TV this year. You can stream Apple TV for FREE, with Apple TV’s seven-day free trial.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the Chinese Grand Prix then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help.
Driver standings after Chinese GP sprint
1. George Russell (Mercedes) – 33 points
2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 22 points
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 22 points
4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 18 points
5. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 15 points
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 8 points
7. Ollie Bearman (Haas) – 7 points
8. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) – 4 points
9. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 3 points
10. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) – 2 points
11. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 2 points
12. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 1 point
13. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – 0 points
14. Alex Albon (Williams) – 0 points
15. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – 0 points
16. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – 0 points
17. Sergio Perez (Cadillac) – 0 points
18. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 0 points
19. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – 0 points
20. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – 0 points
21. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac) – 0 points
Constructor standings after Chinese GP sprint
1. Mercedes – 55 points
2. Ferrari – 40 points
3. McLaren – 18 points
4. Red Bull – 8 points
5. Haas – 7 points
6. Racing Bulls – 6 points
7. Audi – 2 points
8. Alpine – 1 point
9. Williams – 0 points
10. Cadillac – 0 points
11. Aston Martin – 0 points
What is the 2026 race calendar?
ROUND 2 – CHINA (sprint weekend)
Shanghai International Circuit, 13-15 March
ROUND 3 – JAPAN
Suzuka International Racing Course – 27-29 March
ROUND 4 – BAHRAIN
Bahrain International Circuit – 10-12 April
ROUND 5 – SAUDI ARABIA
Jeddah Corniche Circuit – 17-19 April
ROUND 6 – MIAMI (sprint weekend)
Miami International Autodrome, Hard Rock Stadium – 1-3 May
ROUND 7 – CANADA (sprint weekend)
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal – 22-24 May
ROUND 8 – MONACO
Circuit de Monaco – 5-7 June
ROUND 9 – SPAIN (Barcelona)
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya – 12-14 June
ROUND 10 – AUSTRIA
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg – 26-28 June
ROUND 11 – GREAT BRITAIN (sprint weekend)
Silverstone Circuit – 3-5 July
ROUND 12 – BELGIUM
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps – 17-19 July
ROUND 13 – HUNGARY
Hungaroring, Budapest – 24-26 July
ROUND 14 – NETHERLANDS (sprint weekend)
Circuit Zandvoort – 21-23 August
ROUND 15 – ITALY
Monza Circuit – 4-6 September
ROUND 16 – SPAIN (Madrid)
Circuito de Madring – 11-13 September
ROUND 17 – AZERBAIJAN
Baku City Circuit – 25-27 September
ROUND 18 – SINGAPORE (sprint weekend)
Marina Bay Street Circuit – 9-11 October
ROUND 19 – UNITED STATES
Circuit of the Americas, Austin – 23-25 October
ROUND 20 – MEXICO
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City – 30 October-1 November
ROUND 21 – BRAZIL
Interlagos Circuit, Sao Paulo – 6-8 November
ROUND 22 – LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas Street Circuit – 19-21 November
ROUND 23 – QATAR
Lusail International Circuit – 27-29 November
ROUND 24 – ABU DHABI
Yas Marina Circuit – 4-6 December
