2026 Chinese GP: Sprint Qualifying report
Minute-by-minute coverage of the Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying, the Ferraris go on the attack against the Mercedes
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2026 Chinese GP, the Sprint starting grid: Mercedes dominates again, Russell on pole. Antonelli 2nd at risk of penalty, then Norris and Hamilton. Leclerc 6th
China Sprint Qualifying: pole position for Russell, who leads Antonelli by almost three tenths. Norris at six tenths, Ferrari 4th and 6th
Hamilton via radio: “Crazy to be 6 tenths off Russell”, Santi: “Gap due to the engine”
The radio exchange between the Ferrari driver and his race engineer, after the Shanghai Sprint Qualifying
Verstappen resigned: “Undriveable car”. And Mekies apologizes over the radio.
The Dutchman only achieved the eighth fastest time in Sprint qualifying, trailing Russell’s Mercedes by over one second and seven tenths.
Vasseur and the Macarena wing: “Reliability test in Free Practice, then we decided not to use it today”
The words of Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur at the end of the Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying
Leclerc via radio: “What the hell is going on?”. And then explains: “4 tenths lost on the second straight”
Leclerc is not satisfied with 6th place in the Sprint Qualifying and accumulated a 4 tenths gap only on the second straight in Shanghai.
Impeding risk, but Antonelli disagrees: “Norris was on an out-lap. I think nothing will happen”
The Italian set the second fastest time in Sprint Qualifying, but was summoned by the stewards for impeding Lando Norris
Hamilton: “Fantastic job by the team to turn the car around, the Macarena wing? We will work on it, today it was premature”
The words of Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton at the end of the China GP Sprint Qualifying finished in fourth position
Russell warns Ferrari: “We have improved a lot in the starts”
George Russell does not believe that the Ferraris will be leading into Turn 1 in the China Sprint, where Hamilton starts 4th and Leclerc 6th
Perez and Sainz agree with Norris: “There will be a serious accident at the start”
Two of F1’s most experienced drivers have backed the alarm raised by Lando Norris: the risk of rear-end collisions and taking off is extremely high