Chinese Grand Prix 2026: Russell takes sprint pole

George Russell led team-mate Kimi Antonelli as Mercedes dominated qualifying for the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Russell was 0.289 seconds clear of the Italian and a massive 0.621secs ahead of the first non-Mercedes, world champion Lando Norris in the McLaren.

Lewis Hamilton was fourth for Ferrari, just 0.02secs slower than Norris, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took fifth ahead of the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen could manage only eighth place, 1.734secs off the pace and behind the Alpine of Pierre Gasly.

Haas’ Oliver Bearman was ninth ahead of the second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar.

Russell’s pole was his second in six days after he took pole and win in the season-opening race in Australia.

And the qualifying session followed a very similar pattern to Melbourne – Russell about 0.3secs quicker than Antonelli and the quickest Ferrari a similar chunk further behind.

In Australia, the Ferrari was much more competitive in the race.

The big outliers were Red Bull. Hadjar qualified third in Australia but both cars were way off the pace in Shanghai.

Verstappen, who crashed on his first lap in Australia after his rear brakes locked at the first corner, did at least complete a session and was nearly 0.5secs ahead of his team-mate.

But that will be no consolation for the four-time champion when the gap to the front is so large.

More to follow