Russell Leads Mercedes 1–2 in Sole Chinese GP Practice

Sports

George Russell continued his strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 season by setting the fastest time in the only practice session ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit. The Mercedes driver topped the timesheets with a lap of 1:32.741, finishing just 0.120 seconds ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli to give the Silver Arrows another one two result.

The session was especially important because the Shanghai weekend features the first sprint format of the season, meaning teams had only one hour of practice before moving directly into Sprint Qualifying later in the day. Drivers used the limited running to quickly dial in car setups and gather crucial data for both the sprint race and the main Grand Prix.

Behind the dominant Mercedes pair, McLaren’s Lando Norris finished third fastest, continuing to show competitive pace early in the season. His teammate Oscar Piastri was also near the front during parts of the session as McLaren worked through setup adjustments.

Ferrari ended the session just outside the top three, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing fifth and sixth respectively as the team experimented with aerodynamic settings and tyre strategies. Hamilton experienced a difficult run that included a spin and minor contact with Norris during the busy session.

Elsewhere, Haas driver Oliver Bearman impressed with seventh place, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen ended the session down the order after struggling to match the pace of the leaders. Rookie Arvid Lindblad had a disrupted outing after encountering mechanical issues early in the session, limiting his track time.

With Mercedes once again leading the field after their dominant performance in Australia, Russell’s fastest lap in Shanghai sends another strong message to their rivals. Teams now turn their attention to Sprint Qualifying, where the grid for the sprint race will be decided in what promises to be a crucial session during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend.