F1 2026 Chinese GP sprint race grid after Antonelli avoids penalty
George Russell and Mercedes Formula 1 team-mate Kimi Antonelli will line-up on the front row of the grid for the first sprint race of 2026, after Antonelli escaped sanction in a post-session investigation for alleged impeding of McLaren's Lando Norris.
Mercedes will head into Saturday's sprint as favourite for victory considering the large pace gap between pole-sitter Russell and the third-placed car of Norris, but McLaren's improved form in Shanghai suggests its drivers could at least challenge the Ferrari's of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton for a place on the podium.
Chinese GP sprint starting grid
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 Ollie 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)
