Feature image credit: Red Bull Content Pool
The 2026 Formula 1 season kicked off with an entertaining race in Melbourne last week, but will the excitement continue in Shanghai? It’s just one practice session today before Qualifying for Saturday’s sprint race.
Free Practice 1
Look. I could say that I woke up at 3:30am for FP1, but I would be lying.
Here’s the important parts: Russell and Antonelli lead the session in a Mercedes 1-2, continuing their good form from Australia last weekend. Reigning world champ Norris rounded out the top 3, improving already on his first weekend of 2026 where he failed to make the top 3 in any session – not even a practice. He qualified 6th and finished 5th in the race. He can’t complain though; at least he started the race, unlike his teammate.
An incident was noted between Hamilton and Norris, the British pair making light contact after some wheel-to-wheel running, but there was no further investigation.
The yellow flags came out for rookie Arvid Lindblad when he pulled off the track at T14 and was unfortunately unable to continue the session.
Also losing out on valuable track time in the only practice session of the weekend was Carlos Sainz. The Williams driver put in just one lap before spending the rest of the session in the garage.
Colapinto had a somewhat eventful session, with a cheeky spin at T9 at the start of practice and then bringing out the yellow flags when his Alpine stopped in the pitlane.
FP1 Classification
- Russell
- Antonelli
- Norris
- Piastri
- Leclerc
- Hamilton
- Bearman
- Verstappen
- Hulkenberg
- Gasly
- Lawson
- Bortoleto
- Hadjar
- Ocon
- Colapinto
- Albon
- Sainz
- Alonso
- Bottas
- Stroll
- Lindblad
- Perez
Sprint Qualifying
Don’t worry, I did actually wake up for Sprint Quali.
Not too much to note from SQ1 – with three minutes left on the clock, it was the usual suspects in the drop zone. Albon’s Williams, Colapinto’s Alpine, two Aston Martins, and two Cadillacs. One of the Cadillacs, Sergio Perez, didn’t take part in the session.
Colapinto managed a decent lap time as the cheqeured flag fell and bumped Sainz into an SQ1 elimination alongside his teammate.
Midway through SQ2, Mercedes have finally decided to do some laps. And, of course, both cars immediately jump to the top of the timing sheet. Norris came on the radio to complain about Antonelli blocking him, and Bearman was exploring track limits.
Even without a Mercedes in his path, Norris was only 6th fastest but still fast enough to make it into SQ3. Verstappen had plenty to complain about as he was blocked by an Alpine on his last lap, then went wide in a moment of lost focus.
Both Audis went out in SQ2, as well as both Racing Bulls, Ocon, and Colapinto.
The Mercedes boys seemed untouchable again, only competing with each for sector times so far in SQ3. Russell was the fastest of the pair, but there wasn’t much difference in their sector times.
Charles Leclerc, on a personal best lap, stayed a second off the pace set by Russell. Norris put his Mclaren in P3, Piastri put his in P5, with Hamilton splitting the papaya cars.
To the surprise of absolutely nobody … it’s a Mercedes front row lock out for the first sprint of the season.
Grussellistas stay winning!
Sprint Qualifying Classification
- Russell
- Antonelli
- Norris
- Hamilton
- Piastri
- Leclerc
- Gasly
- Verstappen
- Bearman
- Hadjar
- Hulkenberg
- Ocon
- Lawson
- Bortoleto
- Lindblad
- Colapinto
- Sainz
- Albon
- Alonso
- Stroll
- Bottas
- Perez
formula evie 
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