George Russell will start the sprint race for the Chinese Grand Prix on pole position after a strong lap on Friday afternoon in Shanghai.
The championship leader beat team-mate Kimi Antonelli to the top spot by three-tenths of a second.
Reigning champion Lando Norris was third on the grid and the nearest challenger to Mercedes, while Lewis Hamilton was a positive fourth as he outqualified his team-mate.
Red Bull endured a disastrous session as Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar could only muster eighth and 10th on the grid, respectively.
The Shanghai sprint race marks the first short race of the year as teams and drivers look to get their hands on the extra points on offer.
Below, you can see how the teams will line up for the upcoming sprint race!
NOTE: Grid remains provisional until officially confirmed by the FIA.
Full starting grid for 2026 F1 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint
| Position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 2nd | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 3rd | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 4th | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 5th | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 6th | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 7th | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 8th | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 9th | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 10th | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull |
| 11th | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi |
| 12th | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 13th | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 14th | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi |
| 15th | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls |
| 16th | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 17th | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 18th | Alex Albon | Williams |
| 19th | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 20th | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 21st | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac |
| 22nd | Sergio Perez | Cadillac |
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