Formula 1 had a final change to the starting grid for the 2026 Chinese GP after a new intervention by Williams on Alex Albon’s car. The driver once again broke the Parc Fermé regime and, just as had happened in the Sprint, will start from the pits in the main race in Shanghai.
Read more F1: McLaren identifies electrical problem in Norris’s car in China
With this, the FIA confirmed the official starting grid for this Sunday’s race. The front row will be entirely Mercedes, with Kimi Antonelli on pole position and George Russell alongside him, while Ferrari appears just behind with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc forming the second row.
The grid formation reinforces Mercedes’ dominance in qualifying, but also shows Ferrari in a strong position to try and apply pressure from the start. On the third row, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris place the two McLarens just behind the top four finishers.
Another highlight for the Brazilian public is Gabriel Bortoleto. The Audi driver starts from 16th position and will look to move up the field in a race that could be marked by strategy and tire wear.
Carlos Sainz will be 17th on the grid, while Albon, despite appearing in 22nd position on the official list, will start from the pits after Williams once again adjusted the suspension setup of the FW48. The situation repeats exactly what had already happened to the Thai driver before the Sprint, also in Shanghai.
Read more F1: Bortoleto has problems and does not start the Chinese GP
The Chinese GP race will be held this Sunday at 04:00, Brasília time (GMT -3). F1MANIA.NET follows everything in real-time via text, while F1 TV Pro and Sportv broadcast the race live with images.
Check out the official starting grid for the 2026 Chinese GP:
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren/Mercedes)
6. Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes)
7. Pierre Gasly (Alpine/Mercedes)
8. Max Verstappen (Red Bull/Red Bull Ford)
9. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull/Red Bull Ford)
10. Oliver Bearman (Haas/Ferrari)
11. Nico Hülkenberg (Audi)
12. Franco Colapinto (Alpine/Mercedes)
13. Esteban Ocon (Haas/Ferrari)
14. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford)
15. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls/Red Bull Ford)
16. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
17. Carlos Sainz (Williams/Mercedes)
18. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Honda)
19. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac/Ferrari)
20. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin/Honda)
21. Sergio Pérez (Cadillac/Ferrari)
22. Alexander Albon (Williams/Mercedes) – will start from the pits
The expectation is for a very strategic race at the Shanghai circuit, with Mercedes and Ferrari occupying the first two rows and several important names trying to move forward from further back on the grid.
Read more F1: McLaren has problems and Norris and Piastri will not compete in the Chinese GP
