Live coverage: Chinese GP practice and sprint qualifying

The 2026 Formula 1 season continues with its first Sprint weekend at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, where teams face a compressed schedule with only one practice session to dial in their radically new cars. The Shanghai International Circuit's long back straight will test the energy management of the new-generation cars, promising a different challenge from the battery-dominated Australian Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

This weekend sets a crucial early benchmark for the 2026 regulations, revealing how teams adapt to the new cars under the intense pressure of a Sprint format. With minimal practice time, initial performance could dictate the entire weekend's competitive order, making every lap in the sole practice session critically important.

The details:

• The Chinese GP is the first Sprint event of the 2026 season, featuring a condensed schedule that severely limits setup time.
• Teams have just one practice session (FP1) to gather data before the high-stakes Sprint Qualifying begins.
• The Shanghai circuit’s characteristics, especially its long back straight, will challenge the energy recovery and deployment systems of the new power units, shifting the focus from the battery-centric battle seen in Melbourne.
• The competitive hierarchy observed in the season opener in Australia will be tested on a very different track layout.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Sprint Qualifying to see which teams have best interpreted the data from the single practice hour. The performance in the short Sprint race will then provide the final clues for car setup ahead of Sunday's Grand Prix, making Friday and Saturday action pivotal for the entire race weekend result.