Mercedes continued their impressive start to the 2026 Formula 1 season by securing another front-row lockout for the Chinese Grand Prix. Rising star Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivered a sensational qualifying performance to claim his first-ever pole position, benefiting after his teammate George Russell encountered technical setbacks during the session. The achievement marked a historic moment for the young Italian driver, who now becomes the youngest polesitter in Formula 1 history, surpassing the long-standing record previously held by Sebastian Vettel since 2008.
The Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team has looked dominant throughout the early stages of the season. Russell opened the campaign strongly by claiming both pole position and victory at the season-opening race in Australian Grand Prix. He also added a sprint pole and win to his tally during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend. However, his momentum took a hit during the main qualifying session on Saturday when several technical problems disrupted his run. Despite the challenges, Russell managed an impressive recovery to secure second place on the grid, ensuring another Mercedes one-two start.
Behind the Mercedes pair, Lewis Hamilton emerged as the fastest driver for Scuderia Ferrari, lining up third for Sunday’s race. His teammate Charles Leclerc followed closely in fourth, giving Ferrari a strong second row. Oscar Piastri was the leading driver for McLaren in fifth position, narrowly ahead of reigning world champion Lando Norris. Meanwhile, Pierre Gasly delivered a solid qualifying result for Alpine F1 Team, placing seventh after making it into the final Q3 session.
It proved to be a more challenging outing for Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, who could only manage eighth place on the grid. The team opted to make significant setup changes to his car following a difficult sprint race earlier in the weekend, which appeared to affect his qualifying performance. Verstappen’s teammate Isack Hadjar will start just behind him in ninth position, while Oliver Bearman completed the top ten for Haas F1 Team.
2026 Chinese Grand Prix Starting Grid
1. Andrea Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
2. George Russell – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team
3. Lewis Hamilton – Scuderia Ferrari
4. Charles Leclerc – Scuderia Ferrari
5. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
6. Lando Norris – McLaren
7. Pierre Gasly – Alpine F1 Team
8. Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing
9. Isack Hadjar – Red Bull Racing
10. Oliver Bearman – Haas F1 Team
11. Nico Hulkenberg – Audi F1 Team
12. Franco Colapinto – Alpine F1 Team
13. Esteban Ocon – Haas F1 Team
14. Liam Lawson – RB Formula One Team
15. Arvid Lindblad – RB Formula One Team
16. Gabriel Bortoleto – Audi F1 Team
17. Carlos Sainz Jr. – Williams Racing
18. Alex Albon – Williams Racing
19. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team
20. Valtteri Bottas – Cadillac Formula 1 Team
21. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team
22. Sergio Pérez – Cadillac Formula 1 Team
