F1 2026 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race starting grid with penalties applied

Credit for photo: Red Bull Content Pool — Photo: © IMAGO

Chinese Grand Prix

F1 2026 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race starting grid with penalties applied

The full order for Saturday's race in Shanghai

Originally written by Chris Deeley. This version is a translation.

Friday 13 March 2026 22:00

It's the first sprint race of the season, F1 fans!

Grid position is more vital than ever in the bite-sized Saturday races, with no pit strategy to use and precious little time to wear down the car in front of you and get past.

George Russell will, predictably, be starting from pole position, with team-mate Kimi Antonelli right next to him on the front row after being spared a grid penalty following a stewards' enquiry into a potential impeding incident.

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Max Verstappen will start all the way down in eighth behind the Alpine of Pierre Gasly after a dreadful session, with team-mate Isack Hadjar directly behind him on the grid in tenth place.

After Ferrari were the clear closest challenger to Mercedes last weekend, McLaren have come roaring back into things, with papaya cars third and fifth, split by Lewis Hamilton, with Charles Leclerc right behind in sixth.

Chinese Grand Prix Sprint race starting grid

Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Starting Grid
Position	Driver	Team
1	George Russell	Mercedes
2	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes
3	Lando Norris	McLaren
4	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari
5	Oscar Piastri	McLaren
6	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari
7	Pierre Gasly	Alpine
8	Max Verstappen	Red Bull
9	Oliver Bearman	Haas
10	Isack Hadjar	Red Bull
11	Nico Hulkenberg	Audi
12	Esteban Ocon	Haas
13	Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls
14	Gabriel Bortoleto	Audi
15	Arvid Lindblad	Racing Bulls
16	Franco Colapinto	Alpine
17	Carlos Sainz	Williams
18	Alex Albon	Williams
19	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin
20	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin
21	Valtteri Bottas	Cadillac
22	Sergio Perez	Cadillac