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Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2025 Race Start, Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China. Image credit to Mark Thompson/Getty Images. 2026 Chinese GP Preview, Chinese Grand Prix Preview, Formula 1 China 2026 Preview, 2026 F1 China Preview,
2026 Chinese GP Preview – After George Russell scored victory for the Silver Arrows on the streets of Albert Park in Formula 1’s new era of rules and regulations in an action-packed season opener, round two of the 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship returns to the Shanghai International Circuit in China this weekend for the Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2026. This will be the 19th Chinese Grand Prix since 2004 when it first debuted on the Formula One calendar. This will be the first Grand Prix of six to utilise the Sprint format for the season.
2026 Chinese GP Preview – A look at the Shanghai International Circuit
The Shanghai International Circuit is a permanent racing circuit located in the Jiading District of Shanghai, People’s Republic of China.
Costing approximately 2.6 billion yuan ($450 million US), the circuit was financed by a joint ventured government-funded company, consisting of the Shanghai Juss Corporation, Shanghai National Property Management Co Ltd, and Shanghai Jia’an Investment and Development Co Ltd. Architectural.
Circuit designers Hermann Tilke and Peter Wahl began visiting and planning the area between April and May 2003 and with a team of 3000 engineers working around the clock, the site was transformed from swampland to international racetrack within 18 months to be ready for its debut on the Formula One calendar in 2004.
The circuit layout was inspired by Chinese character ‘Shang’, the first character in the name of the city Shanghai meaning ‘high’ or ‘above’.
Other symbols represented in its remarkable architecture originate from Chinese history, such as the team buildings which are arranged like pavilions in a lake to resemble the ancient Yuyan-Garden in Shanghai. The main grandstand with 29,000 capacity seating provides spectacular viewing of almost 80 percent of the circuit.
The circuit shows uniqueness with its change of acceleration and deceleration within different winding turns, making high demands on driver and car but also for its high-speed straights. Another one of the main features of the circuit is the ‘Tilke trademark’ long back-straight followed by a hairpin. These offer exciting overtaking opportunities.
The Shanghai International Circuit runs in a clockwise direction and is 5.451km (3.388 miles) in length with 16 corners.
The race distance is 305.066km (189.599 miles) in length with 56 laps in total.
Michael Schumacher holds the fastest lap record at the Shanghai International Circuit set in 2004 with a 1:32.238 in his Ferrari F2004.
Lewis Hamilton holds the record for most victories at the Chinese Grand Prix with six wins to his name.
Mercedes are the most successful constructors at the Chinese Grand Prix with six victories.
2025 Chinese GP Preview – A Lap Of The Shanghai International Circuit
Here is the onboard pole lap of the Shanghai International Circuit set at last year’s event by Oscar Piastri in his McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team MCL39 racer racer. The Australian posted a 1:30.641. You can watch the video right here at the link: Oscar Piastri’s Pole Lap | 2025 Chinese Grand Prix | Pirelli
2026 Chinese GP Preview – The Last Five Winners
2025: Oscar Piastri, McLaren Racing. 2024: Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing. 2023-20: Note Held. 2019: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1. 2018: Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing. 2017: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1.
2026 Chinese GP Preview – Tyres
Pirelli, F1’s sole tyre supplier will be bringing with them to Shanghai, the white-marked C2 “Hard”, the yellow-branded C3 “Medium” and the red-marked C4 “Softs” over the race weekend including the green-marked “Intermediate” and blue-marked “Full Wet” tyres in case of rain.
Drivers will have six sets of the Softs, four sets of the Mediums and two sets of the Hards.
2026 Chinese GP Preview – Straight & Overtake Mode Zones
At the Shanghai International Circuit for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, the 2026 Formula 1 regulations use Straight Mode and Overtake Mode to help improve overtaking.
Straight Mode allows the car to switch into a low-drag aerodynamic configuration for higher top speed. At Shanghai there are four Straight Mode zones, located on the main acceleration sections of the lap:
- Turn 4 exit → Turn 6 approach
- Turn 6 exit → Turn 9 approach
- Turn 13 exit → Turn 14 braking (the long back straight)
- Turn 16 exit → Turn 1 (start-finish straight)
Drivers can activate Straight Mode freely within these zones.
Overtake Mode provides increased electrical energy deployment to help a trailing driver attack. To receive it, a driver must be within one second of the car ahead at the Overtake Detection Point, located on the main straight before the final corner complex.
If the gap is within one second, Overtake Mode activates on the start-finish straight, giving the driver additional energy deployment for the following lap to assist with overtaking attempts.
2026 Chinese GP Preview – Pitlane Speeds
Pitlane speeds will be 80km/h during Practice, Qualifying and the Race.
ICYMI: Russell clinches Australian GP victory leading home a Mercedes one-two as Ferrari’s strategy fails
📷 Image credit to Joe Portlock/Getty Images. 2026 Chinese GP Preview, Chinese Grand Prix Preview, Formula 1 China 2026 Preview, 2026 F1 China Preview.
George Russell led team-mate Andrea Kimi Antonelli to bring home a Mercedes one-two as Ferrari opted not to pit under the Virtual Safety Car. Charles Leclerc completed the top three for the Scuderia.
This was Russell’s sixth-career victory kickstarting a solid start for the Silver Arrows in Formula 1’s new era.
On the sighting lap to the grid, home favourite Oscar Piastri took a tiny but too much kerb, which spun his McLaren MCL40 racer into the barriers. The Melbourne-native wasn’t even pushing that hard.
Piastri did a short up-shift out of the turn four left-hander and on the turn four exit rumble strip experienced a hit of power from the hybrid system and the McLaren lost the rear, hit the wall and destroyed the front-right of the car.
Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg also encountered an issue on the way to the grid with his R26 entry and in-turn could not start the Australian Grand Prix.
When the 58-lap Australian GP began, pole-sitter Russell got an average start as Leclerc jumped on the inside of the Mercedes into turn one to take the lead as Hadjar remained in third and Antonelli suffered a battery issue and fell to seventh.
On the beginning of the first tour, Leclerc lead by 0.7 seconds over Russell with Hamilton up into third passing Hadjar, Lindblad fifth, Norris sixth, Antonelli seventh, Ocon eighth, Gasly ninth as Alonso completed the top ten.
In the fight for the lead Russell had a look around the Ferrari from the outside of turn 10 but made his way past the Ferrari into turn 11 to reclaim P1.
Leclerc had a look on Russell into turn one, then the latter covered the former to hold turn one.
Later in lap three, Leclerc swept around the outside of the Mercedes to snatch first place into the fast turn nine and ten corners.
Alpine’s Franco Colapinto was under investigation by the race stewards for a starting infringement.
Lap five saw Leclerc’s lead at 0.7 seconds with Hamilton holding third, Hadjar fourth, Antonelli up into fifth after overtaking Lindblad on the rundown to turn one, Norris seventh, Ocon eighth, Gasly ninth as Bortoleto rounded out the top ten runners.
Alonso’s stay in the top 10 did not last long, the Spaniard had dropped to 14th.
Verstappen was up to 12th.
On the sixth lap, Russell had a look once more on Leclerc in the fight for first place, but the Ferrari managed to keep the Silver Arrow at bay.
On the eighth tour, Russell overtook Leclerc once more on the rundown to the turn three right-hander after diving up the inside of the Ferrari.
A few corners later, Leclerc swept around the inside of turn nine to snatch P1 back.
On the beginning of lap nine, Russell made a dive up the inside of turn one suffering a massive lock-up, compromising his turn and allowing Leclerc to hold onto first place and brought Hamilton into the battle for the lead.
Into turn three, Leclerc covered both Russell and Hamilton to remain in the lead.
On lap 10, Leclerc’s lead over Russell was at 0.8 seconds with Hamilton third, Antonelli up into fourth after passing Hadjar, Lindblad sixth, Norris seventh, Ocon eighth, Verstappen into ninth as Gasly completed the top ten.
Alpine’s Colapinto was hit with a stop and go penalty for his starting infringement.
Smoke was seen flowing from Hadjar’s Red Bull as the Frenchman parked his car at Lakeside Drive becoming the third retiree after the race.
The Virtual Safety Car was deployed as Norris, Ocon, Gasly, Sainz, Lawson all pitted.
Both Mercedes of Russell and Antonelli then pitted for a set of the harder compounds and emerged in third and fifth respectively.
Hamilton reported: “One of us should have come in!”
The order under the VSC was Leclerc leading from Hamilton, Russell and Lindblad. Antonelli drops to fifth, ahead of Verstappen, Bearman, Bortoleto, Norris and Ocon.
After Hadjar’s RB22 was cleared and VSC ended, both Ferrari’s of Leclerc and Hamilton charged on out-front with the Merces on fresher harder tyres.
Alonso was called in to retire the car making him the fourth casualty of the race.
On the 16th tour, Leclerc’s lead over team-mate Hamilton was at 1.7 seconds, Russell ten seconds behind the Ferrari’s, Antonelli moved up into fourth overtaking Lindblad, Verstappen on the harder compound was up into sixth, Bearman seventh, Bortoleto eighth, Norris ninth as Ocon rounded out the top ten.
Hamilton and his new Race Engineer were exchanging words. It sounded like Ferrari were remaining on their original one-stop strategy, whilst they suspect Russell and the like will now be on a two-stopper.
The 17th lap – Most bolted on the harder tyre in those pit stops – but can that compound make it to the end? Verstappen started on the hards, and his front-left looked very heavily grained.
Fuel loads will lesson of course during the course of proceedings.
Russell began to claw back some time on the Ferrari duo ahead.
On the 18th lap, Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas was seen parked on the grass at the penultimate corner near the pit-entry line bringing out the second VSC.
Lindblad, Verstappen, Bearman and Bortoleto all dived in for a stop.
Lindblad got back out ahead of Verstappen, who almost power slid out of his box to ensure he remained ahead of Bearman.
When the race resumed on the 20th lap, Verstappen swept around the outside of Lindblad into turn nine to take sixth place. Russell was only 6.7 seconds behind the two Ferrari’s and closing in.
The 21st tour – Russell was the man who was really on the charge, setting purple sectors in third and getting ever closer.
The situation on lap 22 – Leclerc lead from Hamilton, both on their original medium compounds. Russell, Antonelli and Norris behind are all on hards having pitted under one of the two VSC periods we have had.
Everyone had pitted bar the Ferrari duo, with Verstappen the only man to have pitted for mediums having started on the hards.
Lap 23 – Hamilton had radioed to say his tyres were good, so do not box him behind Leclerc. Right. Without a VSC, it was unlikely Ferrari would double stack.
Leclerc held a 1.6 second advantage over his team-mate, whilst Russell now just 3.8 seconds back.
The turn three incident involving Perez and Lawson was currently under investigation by the race stewards.
Lap 24 – There has been some tasty battles further back, including between two former Red Bull drivers in Lawson and Perez.
Gasly and Ocon have also had some intense moments, no love lost today between those former team-mates.
Gasly has hold of the final point at the moment of proceedings.
On Lap 26 – Leclerc pitted from the lead for a fresh set of the harder rubber and came out down in fourth behind Antonelli.
Hamilton led now from Russell and Antonelli.
Meanwhile, Alonso had rejoined the race for Aston Martin.
Lap 27 – Hamilton was just one second in-front of Russell. Is he being left out there to hold the Mercedes up, buying his team-mate time was the question? His front tyres were graining heavily, but he would have a tyre offset against Leclerc. Especially if he could stay out a few more tours, as painful as it could be.
Lap 29 saw Russell with Overtake Mode make a move around the outside of Hamilton at turn nine to reclaim the lead and the latter dived into the pits immediately to put on a set of the harder rubber.
Hamilton emerged in fourth place behind team-mate Leclerc.
Race leader Russell told his team: “The one-stop is viable,”.
The 30th tour, Russell was leading at 6.7 seconds over team-mate Antonelli with Leclerc third Hamilton fourth, Norris fifth, Verstappen sixth, Lindblad seventh, Bearman eighth, Bortoleto ninth whilst Gasly rounded out the top ten.
The 32nd lap – Russell was 14.2 seconds in-front of Leclerc, so he did not have a pit stop window here, but he was not far away from having a VSC window.
The man who was on the move was Verstappen; The Dutchman was chasing down last year’s rival Norris for fifth place.
Lap 33 – Russell was trying to build a gap, but he was lapping half a second slower than Leclerc and that was not helping his cause. Hamilton was not keeping pace with his team-mate either, Leclerc very much the man on the move at this stage of proceedings.
Antonelli was told they are thinking of going to the end. “That is going to be brave,” the Italian explained.
Lap 34 – “Could you do 26 laps on a medium?” Norris was asked. “No, because I destroyed a set after 10 laps,” he responded.
Another VSC was brought out briefly as parts of Perez’s Cadillac blew off. It was all but brief as some very quick marshals running out to pick up the bargeboard pieces from the Mexican’s MAC-01 entry.
The 35th lap – Verstappen was crawling all over the back of Norris and… McLaren called their man in. A two-stop for the reigning world champion, as he bolted on some more medium tyres.
He came out in eighth, behind Bearman.
Lap 36 – No one else in the top 10 reacted to Norris’ stop. It has yet to be seen this year if the undercut or overcut will be powerful.
Verstappen in fifth was on a different strategy, having started on the hards whilst the Ferraris were attempting to one-stop, whilst it is uncertain what Mercedes were doing bar pushing on as far as they can go.
With 20 laps remaining, Russell’s advantage over team-mate Antonelli was at 6.5 seconds with Leclerc a further 9.7 seconds adrift in third, Hamilton fourth, Verstappen fifth, Lindblad sixth, Norris seventh, Bearman eighth Gasly ninth as Ocon rounded out the top ten.
With Overtake and Straight Move on the main-straight Norris made a move on the inside of Lindblad into turn one to take sixth place from the Racing Bulls debutant.
Further back, Bortoleto made his way in-front of Ocon to jump back into the points paying positions.
On the 41st tour – Up-front, Russell remained 6.7 seconds ahead of his team-mate Antonelli. Leclerc was still 16.2 seconds off the lead but somehow had to pressure Mercedes into using up those tyres if they could.
Further back, the Bearman Lindblad British battle was all sorts of brilliant, the duo switching and swapping as they use and recharge their batteries.
On lap 42, Verstappen pitted for a fresh set of the harder rubber and emerged in sixth place behind Norris.
The 43rd tour – Verstappen had lost position to Norris, but on eight lap fresher tyres, should be able to fight his way back to the McLaren driver. Those two were fighting for fifth today, the Ferraris and Mercedes cars just too fast at Albert Park.
Lap 44 – Leclerc was trying to make in-roads, but he could not get close enough to either Antonelli or Russell to force Mercedes into a late pit stop.
Leclerc was 16 seconds off the lead, Hamilton 20.6 seconds adrift.
The 45th lap – The word over the radio to Russell was: “To the end.” His harder tyres were 33 laps old.
Russell had previously in the past, could whisper his tyres into remarkable things – and it looked like he had Antonelli for company as the Silver Arrows attempted to grab a 1-2 in the season-opener.
Lap 46 – The situation with Leclerc, behind him, Hamilton was only four seconds behind his team-mate here in what now looks like the battle for the final podium place.
Behind them, Verstappen was just one second behind Norris in the fight for fifth place.
Lap 47 – Norris was being encouraged on by his Race Engineer. The Briton gave nothing but crickets.
With ten laps remaining Russell was six seconds in-front of team-mate Antonelli with Leclerc and Hamilton third and fourth, Norris fifth, Verstappen sixth, Bearman seventh, Lindblad eighth, Bortoleto ninth as Gasly rounded out the top 10.
The 49th tour – If Mercedes could this one-stop strategy work, it will be very impressive from both drivers. Russell’s tyres were 37 laps old, the same age as Antonelli’s. There was 5.9 seconds between the two Mercedes drivers at this stage of proceedings, as Leclerc continued to languish a further 10 seconds down the road.
The 52nd lap – The win looked like to have sailed for Ferrari, but Hamilton could smell a podium. He was now 2.7 seconds behind team-mate in the battle for third, on tyres that were three laps fresher.
“Keep pushing, doing well,” Hamilton was told.
“Leave me to it mate, thanks,” the seven-time world champion replied.
The 54th lap – Somehow, Norris remained in-front of Verstappen in the battle for fifth place.
The gap between the pairing was over a second, so Verstappen did not have Overtake Mode to assist his cause.
Lap 55 – Russell was lapping in the 1:22’s bracket, Leclerc was in the 1:23’s last time around.
Hamilton was the man on the move, but he was still two seconds adrift of his team-mate and running out of time to make an overtake on Leclerc.
The 56th tour – The front four were steady, but further back, Bortoleto was crawling all over the back of Lindblad in the fight for eighth place. He had Overtake Mode too.
Ocon was also within a second of Gasly in the fight for the final points paying position.
Russell crossed the line to take his sixth-career victory ahead of team-mate Antonelli to lead home a Mercedes one-two as Leclerc completed the top three for Ferrari.
Hamilton followed in fourth in the other SF-26 entry and in-front of fellow world champions Norris and Verstappen who were fifth and sixth respectively.
Bearman came home seventh for Haas and ahead of Lindblad who took an impressive eighth for Racing Bulls on debut.
Audi’s Bortoleto finished the Australian GP in ninth for the re-branded outfit as Alpine’s Gasly rounded out the top ten runners.
2026 Chinese GP Preview – The Situation
📷 Image credit to Joe Portlock/Getty Images. 2026 Chinese GP Preview, Chinese Grand Prix Preview, Formula 1 China 2026 Preview, 2026 F1 China Preview.
Formula 1 heads straight to the Shanghai International Circuit for the first Sprint weekend of the new campaign with Mercedes’ George Russell aiming to build on his momentum on his flying start to 2026 at the Chinese GP.
After an action-packed debut for Formula 1’s new engines and rules at Melbourne, Mercedes’ archrivals will be pushing to take on the early championship leaders around the Shanghai International Circuit – which presents a different challenge compared to the streets of Albert Park.
Ferrari also impressed in Melbourne and now return to the place where Sir Lewis Hamilton picked up the Sprint victory last year, whilst McLaren and Red Bull will be aiming for better showings in China.
Russell returns to Shanghai sitting on top of the World Driver’s Championship with 25 points and a seven-point advantage over Mercedes’ team-mate Antonelli who is second on 18 points whilst Leclerc is a further 10 behind the Briton in third on 15 points.
Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team sit on top of the World Constructor’s Championship standings with 43 points and a 16-point advantage over nearest rivals Ferrari who are second on 27 points whilst defending world champions Mclaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team are a further 33 points behind the Silver Arrows in third place on 10 points.
The Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2026 weekend kicks off Friday March 13 with Free Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying, the 100km Sprint Race and Qualifying Saturday March 14 and the 56 lap Chinese Grand Prix Sunday March 15.
