Formula 1 returns to the track this week for the Chinese Grand Prix, the second round of the 2026 season and also the first sprint race weekend of the year. After the championship opener in Melbourne, the championship arrives in Shanghai bringing the first answers of the category’s new technical era, now in a format that promises even more action throughout the weekend.
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The season began with Mercedes dominance. George Russell won the Australian GP and took the lead of the Drivers’ Championship for the first time in his career. The German team also celebrated a 1-2 finish in the opening round, with Kimi Antonelli finishing in second position, while Charles Leclerc took Ferrari to the podium by crossing the finish line in third.
The race in Melbourne also marked an important moment for the new Formula 1 landscape. Audi, which officially debuted in the category after taking over the Sauber structure, scored its first points in the team’s F1 history. Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto finished in the points zone and secured the first positive result for the German manufacturer in its new phase in the championship.
Now the championship moves to the Shanghai International Circuit, a 5,451 km track known for its long straights and overtaking opportunities. The long back straight is usually one of the main points for position battles, while the sequences of long corners require good aerodynamic balance and careful tire management throughout the race.
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The Chinese GP also marks the first sprint format event of the season. In this model, the weekend features only one free practice session before the sprint qualifying that defines the grid for Saturday’s short race. Meanwhile, traditional qualifying remains responsible for determining the grid for Sunday’s main race.
The main race in Shanghai will have 56 laps, in a race that should offer a clearer picture of the teams’ competitiveness at the start of the championship, especially after the debut of the new cars in 2026.
Check out the schedule for the Formula 1 Chinese GP (Brasília time):
Friday – March 13
Free Practice 1 – 00h30
Sprint Qualifying – 04h30
Saturday – March 14
Sprint Race – 00h00
Qualifying – 04h00
Sunday – March 15
Race – 04h00
All weekend activities will have full real-time coverage on F1Mania.net, with news, analysis, and all the information from the second round of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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