Early 2026 F1 qualifying data reveals initial teammate battles, with McLaren's Norris and Piastri in a dead heat, Hamilton edging Leclerc at Ferrari, and rookies like Bearman at Haas making a strong first impression.
George Russell took sprint pole in China but is focused on Ferrari's threat off the line, confirming Mercedes has worked to improve its race starts after being overtaken at the start in Australia. The sprint race will be the first test of these adjustments.
An early look at the 2025 F1 teammate qualifying battles reveals a mixed picture. George Russell dominates at Mercedes, while Red Bull rookie Isack Hadjar has already outpaced Max Verstappen in a session. Other pairings like McLaren's Norris/Piastri and Ferrari's Leclerc/Hamilton are neck-and-neck, setting the stage for compelling intra-team rivalries this season.
Red Bull faced a stark setback in China as Max Verstappen qualified only eighth for the Sprint. Team Principal Laurent Mekies apologized to the champion over team radio, acknowledging a "tough" session with "a lot to learn," while the team urgently seeks solutions for the rest of the weekend.
FIA stewards will investigate two separate alleged impeding incidents from Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying. Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli is accused of blocking Lando Norris, while Alpine's Pierre Gasly is under scrutiny for allegedly impeding Max Verstappen. Both drivers risk three-place grid penalties for the Sprint race.
George Russell dominated Sprint qualifying for the Chinese GP, putting his Mercedes on pole ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli faces a stewards' investigation for impeding, which could promote McLaren's Lando Norris. The session was a disaster for Red Bull, with Max Verstappen qualifying a shocking eighth.
Lewis Hamilton finished P4 in China's Sprint Qualifying but highlighted a significant power deficit to Mercedes, stating Ferrari has "a lot of work" to do. He praised the car's handling but said straight-line speed losses require urgent development, as the team shelved a premature rear wing upgrade.
Ferrari has withdrawn its new 'Macarena' active rear wing after just one practice session in China, reverting to an older specification due to reliability worries. The much-discussed component, which was fast-tracked for the sprint weekend, has been shelved, forcing the team to use a more conservative setup for the remainder of the event.
Sprint Qualifying is in progress at the Chinese GP, determining the starting order for Saturday's short-form race. The fast-paced session uses mandatory tyre compounds and a shortened format, providing the first true competitive benchmark at the Shanghai circuit since 2019.
In Shanghai, F1 team bosses from Red Bull, Audi, and Alpine provided stark assessments of the new 2026 season. Red Bull confirmed a significant gap to the front, Audi took pride in a historic first point, and Alpine was critical of its own form while addressing rumors of a Mercedes investment.
Flavio Briatore has confirmed Mercedes is negotiating to buy a 24% stake in Alpine F1, currently held by the Otro Capital group. The move highlights F1's growing value and complex team alliances, with multiple bidders reportedly in the mix for the shares.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli faces a stewards' investigation for impeding McLaren's Lando Norris during Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying. This is the second weekend in a row the pair have been involved in an incident, putting Antonelli at risk of a grid penalty for the Sprint Race.
