George Russell dominated the Chinese Grand Prix sprint qualifying head and shoulders above the rest. The Mercedes driver finished ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris, while Max Verstappen and Red Bull endured a particularly difficult session.
Read more Kimi Antonelli facing a grid penalty after impeding Norris
After a single free practice session held earlier in the day at the Shanghai circuit, the drivers embarked on the first battle of the weekend with Sprint Qualifying. This session, shorter than traditional qualifying, determines the starting grid for the sprint race scheduled for Saturday.
SQ1, the first phase of the session, gave drivers only twelve minutes to climb out of the elimination zone. A peculiarity of this format: all competitors must use a single set of new medium tires. Even before the session really began, one driver was already doomed. Sergio Pérez was unable to take to the track, his Cadillac being stranded in the pits due to a fuel system problem.
On track, George Russell quickly took command by setting a benchmark lap of 1’33″030. Attempts multiplied for the majority of the field, but the Briton remained firmly in the lead.
Lewis Hamilton closed to within just over a tenth on his second attempt, while Charles Leclerc moved to within less than two tenths on a third run. Behind this trio, Kimi Antonelli settled into fourth place, four tenths back.
The McLarens remained slightly further back. Pierre Gasly and Nico Hülkenberg completed the list of drivers capable of staying within the same second as Russell. Conversely, the session ended prematurely for several teams. Both Williams, both Aston Martins, and one Cadillac were eliminated in this first phase.
Red Bull struggling to reach SQ3
SQ2, held over ten minutes, confirmed the excellent form of the Mercedes. George Russell again struck hard during the first attempts, while his young teammate Kimi Antonelli closed to within just fifty thousandths. Charles Leclerc stayed in the lead group, but about three tenths back, while the trio of Oscar Piastri, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris were already eight tenths down.
On the Red Bull side, the situation proved much more complicated. Both cars showed a significant gap, flirting with a 1,3-second deficit to the best time.
Read more Max Verstappen furious after Gasly: stewards’ investigation pending
Max Verstappen even had a small scare on his final flying lap, going wide in the last corner and briefly passing through the gravel trap. The Dutchman also complained of being impeded by Pierre Gasly during his fast lap, an incident to be examined after the session. Despite these difficulties, both Red Bulls managed to narrowly qualify for SQ3.
The session, however, ended for several drivers, including both Audis, both Racing Bulls, Esteban Ocon – beaten again by Oliver Bearman – as well as Franco Colapinto.
Mercedes crushes SQ3
The final phase of sprint qualifying, SQ3, lasts only eight minutes and requires the use of a single set of soft tires. Unlike previous sessions, the Mercedes did not wait to take to the track. George Russell immediately struck a major blow by setting an impressive lap that allowed him to take the lead by more than three tenths over Antonelli.
Lewis Hamilton positioned himself six tenths back, while Charles Leclerc was already more than a second behind. But the real surprise came from Red Bull. Max Verstappen could do no better than a time nearly 1,7 seconds off the benchmark.
In the final minutes of the session, the other drivers attempted one last improvement. While the Mercedes duo remained untouchable, the battle intensified behind them. Lando Norris finally took third place, about six tenths back, just ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Oscar Piastri completed the top five, while Charles Leclerc finished a bit further back, about a second off the pole-sitter.
With this impressive 1-2, Mercedes sends a very clear message to its rivals before the sprint race and the rest of the weekend at the Shanghai circuit.
Read more George Russell confident: Mercedes has a plan to counter Ferrari in Shanghai
2026 F1 Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying Classification:
