Mercedes really comes as the team to beat in the 2026 Formula 1 season. In qualifying for the Chinese GP Sprint race this Friday (13), George Russell dominated to take pole position, while Kimi Antonelli starts second and Lando Norris completes the top 3. Gabriel Bortoleto starts 14th.
Read more F1: Check out the images from the first day of the 2026 Chinese GP
Check out the full result of the F1 Chinese GP Sprint qualifying:
1) George Russell (Mercedes), 1’31.520 , – 28 laps
2) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), 1’31.809 (+0.289), – 29
3) Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes), 1’32.141 (+0.621), – 28
4) Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), 1’32.161 (+0.641), – 27
5) Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes), 1’32.224 (+0.704), – 27
6) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 1’32.528 (+1.008), – 25
7) Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Mercedes), 1’32.888 (+1.368), – 27
8) Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Red Bull Ford), 1’33.254 (+1.734), – 24
9) Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari), 1’33.409 (+1.889), – 26
10) Isack Hadjar (Red Bull/Red Bull Ford), 1’33.723 (+2.203), – 27
11) Nico Hülkenberg (Audi), 1’33.635 (+2.115), – 28
12) Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari), 1’33.639 (+2.119), – 25
13) Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford), 1’33.714 (+2.194), – 25
14) Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), 1’33.774 (+2.254), – 24
15) Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford), 1’34.048 (+2.528), – 25
16) Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Mercedes), 1’34.327 (+2.807), – 30
17) Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes), 1’34.761 (+3.241), – 17
18) Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes), 1’35.305 (+3.785), – 18
19) Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Honda), 1’35.581 (+4.061), – 24
20) Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Honda), 1’36.151 (+4.631), – 20
21) Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac/Ferrari), 1’37.378 (+5.858), – 6
22) Sergio Pérez (Cadillac/Ferrari), no time
Read more F1: Russell is on pole and leads a Mercedes 1-2 for the China GP Sprint race
