F1 Chinese GP live commentary and updates - Sprint race
Follow updates for the sprint race in Shanghai at round two of the 2026 F1 season
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A good, early morning (or late night) to all, and welcome to Autosport and Motorsport as we follow the Chinese GP sprint race!
But with a few sessions now done, how're you feeling about the new rules? To say they've divided opinion says the least...
While Mercedes is 1-2, McLaren and Ferrari share the second and third rows but arguably a bigger storyline was Red Bull. Its world champion Max Verstappen could only take eighth, behind Pierre Gasly, with his team-mate Isack Hadjar in 10th.
Here is the full starting grid for today's 19-lap race.
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Marcel van Dorst / EYE4images / NurPhoto via Getty Images
The formation lap is go!
The Chinese GP sprint race is underway!
Lap 1/19
George Russell keeps his lead but it's a horrible start for Kimi Antonelli, who was slow off his line presumably down to a lack of battery power.
Brilliant from Lewis Hamilton, who was quick to react and is up to second with Lando Norris right behind.
Lap 1/19
It gets even better for the seven-time world champion, who takes the lead from George Russell at Turn 8!
Lap 2/19
But once again we're seeing that yo-yo style racing that was witnessed in Melbourne, as Russell re-took his lead in the final sector before Hamilton overtook him again into Turn 1.
In the midfield though, Arvid Lindblad has spun to the back in his Racing Bulls.
Lewis Hamilton leading the Chinese GP sprint race...what year is this again?
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images
Lap 4/19
We have a new leader again...and again. Russell blasted past Hamilton down the back straight, but it looks like he wasted his energy as the Ferrari driver took the lead again at Turn 1.
'Yo-yo' is certainly one word for it...
Lap 6/19
How is Max Verstappen down in 13th one may ask. Well, looking at a replay of the race start, he was slow off the line just like Kimi as he struggled for revs.
Lap 6/19
At what point does a driver taking the race lead become a little insignificant? Once again, we have a change as Russell overtakes Hamilton.
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lap 7/19
Antonelli has made a real mess of this race. He's just been given a 10-second penalty for locking up into Isack Hadjar towards the start. There was little damage on the Red Bull, but it is big damage to Kimi's race.
He is currently fourth, but will drop to around ninth as it stands.
Lap 8/19
Looks like Russell has survived the Ferrari challenge for now, as Leclerc and Hamilton are instead focusing on each other. The seven-time world champion has dropped to third, with second-placed Leclerc around 2s off the lead.
Lap 9/19
The Ferrari drivers really are focusing on each other now, much to George's delight. Hamilton tried to re-take second but failed and the squabbles continue.
At what point does the Scuderia enforce team orders? Kimi is closing...
The incident which led to Antonelli's penalty...
Lap 11/19
Russell has certainly survived the Ferrari threat. He is 4s down the road ahead of Leclerc, with Hamilton trying to thwart an Antonelli challenge for third.
Remember, Antonelli has a 10s penalty so even if he takes third, he'll most likely drop down the order.
Lap 12/19
There we are: Antonelli has taken the final podium spot. But as things stand, he'll drop to sixth. Piastri currently holds sixth on track, but he is 13.3s ahead of seventh-placed Lawson.
The action unfolding with parts of the Shanghai skyline in the background.
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Photo by: Lintao Zhang / LAT Images via Getty Images
Lap 13/19
Hulkenberg has pulled off at Turn 1...safety car on its way?
It is! Just moments before it was called, Antonelli overtook Leclerc for second in the final sector.
News of the safety car has bunched up the order with some pitting and others not. Lawson and Bearman stayed out and they've consequently jumped ahead of Antonelli and Piastri.
The Mercedes driver served his penalty, while Piastri lost time in a double stack behind Norris.
Why would McLaren pit both cars? It's massively cost Piastri who has dropped to eighth, and there's not going to be much green flag running left...
Lap 17/19
And we're racing again!
Lap 17/19
A bit of wheelspin out of the penultimate corner cost Leclerc, so Russell is already a second down the road and unchallenged in the lead.
Lap 18/19
Mixed bag for McLaren. Hamilton has overtaken Norris for third, whereas Piastri had an effective restart moving up to fifth.
Lap 18/19
Though Piastri has been told to give Antonelli fifth, having allegedly overtaken him before the line on the restart.
Lap 19/19
Final lap. Russell is seemingly chilling with a gap of 1s to Leclerc, whose team-mate Hamilton is 2.5s behind in the final podium spot.
Championship leader George Russell continues his perfect start to the season by winning the Chinese GP sprint race!
Ferrari completes the podium, while Norris and Antonelli round out the top five.
We're only a grand prix and sprint race into the season, but Russell already leads the championship by 11 points.
The Mercedes driver is on 33 points, with Leclerc and Antonelli tied on 22. Season over?
Obviously not...2025 showed a points total can be reduced in an instant. But George is certainly looking head and shoulders above the rest!
Russell in parc ferme: "I just spoke to Charles and this was pretty fun in the end. A lot of strategy and how we do the overtakes is not easy. Then got everything under control - very happy to get the win."
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Lintao Zhang / LAT Images via Getty Images
Leclerc: "Was managing quite a bit but I'm pretty happy with the race. It's good to see our race pace is more similar to the Mercedes than our qualifying pace."
Hamilton: "Mega job. Big thank you to the team for us to be in this position fighting with Mercedes at the front. Their pace on the straights is just a little too much at the moment."
On top of the world
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Alastair Staley / LAT Images via Getty Images
Toto Wolff: "The Ferraris are really quick out of the box. I think probably they outstretched the tyres a bit, so without the safety car that would've been more difficult for them."
By: Ed Hardy
