Russell tops sole practice in China as Mercedes shows early pace

George Russell set the fastest time in the single, extended practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix, leading a Mercedes 1-2 over teammate Kimi Antonelli. The session, which sets the stage for the first Sprint weekend of the 2026 season, was punctuated by several incidents, including a spin for Lewis Hamilton and a terminal mechanical failure for Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad.

Why it matters:

With only one practice session before Sprint Qualifying, teams had minimal time to gather data and dial in their cars for the Shanghai International Circuit. Mercedes' strong showing suggests a potential step forward in competitiveness, while the session's chaotic nature—with spins, contact, and a red flag—highlights the pressure and unpredictability of a compressed Sprint format where every lap counts.

The details:

• Mercedes on top: George Russell set the benchmark with a 1:32.741 on the Soft (C4) tyre, just over a tenth clear of rookie teammate Kimi Antonelli (1:32.861). Lando Norris was best of the rest for McLaren, but over half a second adrift.
• A session of incidents: The hour was messy. Alpine's Franco Colapinto had an early spin. World Champion Lando Norris made light contact with Lewis Hamilton's Ferrari while attempting a pass. Hamilton later spun at Turn 6, flat-spotting his tyres.
• Lindblad's setback: The session's biggest disruption came when Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad, the only rookie on the 2026 grid, ground to a halt at Turn 9, causing a Virtual Safety Car and ending his day prematurely.
• Hamilton's struggles: Running Ferrari's new 'rotating' rear wing, Lewis Hamilton struggled for pace. He finished the session sixth, over 1.3 seconds behind Russell, citing brake locking during his spin.
• Mixed fortunes for rivals: Max Verstappen ended a quiet session for Red Bull in P8, nearly two seconds off the pace. Oliver Bearman was an impressive seventh for Haas, while Audi and Alpine rounded out the top ten.

What's next:

The compressed schedule now moves directly into Sprint Qualifying (SQ), which will set the grid for Saturday's Sprint race. Teams have very little data to work with, making car setup a gamble and placing a premium on driver feedback. Mercedes will look to convert its practice pace into a strong qualifying result, while Ferrari and Red Bull must find immediate answers to their apparent performance deficit. All eyes will also be on the Racing Bulls garage to see if Lindblad's car can be repaired in time for the next session.