Kimi Antonelli will start the Chinese Grand Prix from pole position as the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history.
The Italian has become the first teenager to ever start a world championship grand prix from pole, beating Sebastian Vettel's record from the 2008 Italian GP by nearly three years.
Behind him will be team-mate George Russell, with the fast-starting Ferrari pair of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in third and fourth, with an all-McLaren third row, Oscar Piastri ahead of Lando Norris.
Max Verstappen is eighth as Red Bull's dreadful weekend continues.
Alex Albon will now start from the pit lane, for the second time over the F1 weekend in Shanghai.
The Williams driver had changes made to the suspension set-up of his FW48 after qualifying P18 at the Shanghai International Circuit — for the second time in the same round.
Check out the full adjusted starting grid for the 2026 F1 Chinese Grand Prix below.
NOTE: Grid remains provisional until officially confirmed by the FIA.
Full adjusted 2026 F1 Chinese Grand Prix starting grid
| Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 2nd | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 3rd | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 4th | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 5th | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 6th | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 7th | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 8th | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 9th | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull |
| 10th | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 11th | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi |
| 12th | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 13th | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 14th | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 15th | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls |
| 16th | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi |
| 17th | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 18th | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 19th | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac |
| 20th | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 21st | Sergio Perez | Cadillac |
| PIT LANE | Alex Albon | Williams |
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