George Russell heads Antonelli at sole Chinese GP practice
13th March 2026Mercedes’ George Russell heads the timing boards, ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli, at the only free practice session of the Chinese Grand Prix.
Feature image credit: Red Bull Content Pool // Getty Images
Due to it being a sprint race weekend, it meant the teams and drivers only had a single hour to sort out their set-ups before being placed under parc ferme conditions for sprint qualifying later today.
After the sole 60-minute session, around the Shanghai International Circuit, it was Russell who topped the timing boards with the fastest lap, a 1m 32.741s. Russell’s best time stood 0.12s faster than his teammate Antonelli, as McLaren’s Lando Norris rounded out the top three, half a second behind.
However, it wasn’t a session without issues.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton locked up into turn six early on, causing the seven-time world champion to flat-spot his medium compound tyres. This was compounded by an earlier collision between himself and Norris, heading onto the pit straight.
Chinese Grand Prix Preview: Mercedes look to continue dominant form in Shanghai
At the final corner, the two came together as the reigning world champion pulled alongside the Ferrari, and the two came together. It was later deemed ‘no further action’ by the stewards after it was noted by race control.
Shortly after, the session was placed under two bouts of Virtual Safety Car. The first round was to allow the marshals to clear away debris, and the second bout was due to Racing Bull’s Arvid Lindblad.
The Racing Bulls driver had stopped on track, at an access point at the turn 14 hairpin, after it was shown the Briton had experienced some smoke in the cockpit. It brought an early, premature end to his first practice session in Shanghai.
Who finished where?
- George Russell, Mercedes – 1m 32.741s
- Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes +0.12s
- Lando Norris, McLaren +0.555s
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren +0.731s
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari +0.858s
- Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari +1.388s
- Oliver Bearman, Haas +1.685s
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing +1.8s
- Nico Hulkenberg, Audi +1.898s
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine +1.935s
- Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls +2.032s
- Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi +2.087s
- Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing +2.115s
- Esteban Ocon, Haas +2.136s
- Franco Colapinto, Alpine +2.206s
- Alexander Albon, Williams +2.739s
- Carlos Sainz, Williams +2.938s
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin +3.115s
- Valtteri Bottas, Cadillac +3.316s
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin +4.483s
- Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls +5.155s
- Sergio Perez, Cadillac +6.459s
Read more Formula 1 here:
- Chinese Grand Prix Preview: Mercedes look to continue dominant form in Shanghai
- FIA confirm post-race checks ahead of Chinese Grand Prix
- The Writers Verdict: 2026 Australian Grand Prix
- Antonelli admits to ‘stressful’ start after Mercedes one-two at Australian GP
- Why Sergio Perez avoided punishment at Australian Grand Prix
- Australian Grand Prix: 3 Winners & Losers
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
