China GP SPRINT Qualifications – Results Q1, Q2, Q3

FULL DNS / DNQ LIST – F1 SPRINT QUALIFYING, SHANGHAI 2026:

Mercedes arrived in Shanghai with a point to prove after a chaotic Australian opener, and George Russell answered emphatically, going quickest in all three segments to claim sprint pole with a 1:31.520. But the real story was the man alongside him. Kimi Antonelli, just one race into his F1 career, qualified P2 ahead of Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, and Oscar Piastri. A rookie splitting the McLarens and Ferraris in a sprint shootout is not something you see every day.

Max Verstappen will start the sprint from P8, a position that would have been unthinkable twelve months ago. Red Bull’s struggles with the new regulations are no secret, but being outpaced by Pierre Gasly’s Alpine by nearly four tenths underlines just how much ground the team has to recover. With Liam Lawson eliminated in Q2, it was a session to forget for the entire Red Bull camp.

Drivers out in Q1 – China GP SPRINT Qualification

Sergio Pérez became the first casualty of the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying, with the Cadillac driver confirmed as a DNS before the session even began.

Per early reports, the team identified a fuel system issue at the end of the sole free practice session the only practice allowed on a Sprint weekend, leaving mechanics unable to fix the car in time. Teammate Valtteri Bottas was unaffected and participated as normal.

This is the second consecutive troubled session for Pérez and Cadillac, who also suffered reliability problems during the Australian Grand Prix weekend, the team’s F1 debut.

22. Sergio Pérez (Cadillac) – DNS | Fuel system issue (per early reports)

21. Valtteri Bottas – DNQ 1:37.378

20. Lance Stroll – DNQ 1:36.151

19. Fernando Alonso – DNQ 1:35.581

18. Alexander Albon – DNQ 1:35.305

17. Carlos Sainz – DNQ 1:34.761

Drivers out in Q2 – China GP SPRINT Qualification

The Q2 battle was brutal and tight, with just 0.089 seconds separating Nico Hülkenberg in P11 from Franco Colapinto in P16. Audi placed both cars in Q2 but couldn’t convert, while Pierre Gasly was the standout midfield performer, the Frenchman’s P7 is easily Alpine’s best result of the young season and a sign that the A525 may be finding its feet.

16. Franco Colapinto – DNQ 1:34.327

15. Arvid Lindblad – DNQ 1:34.048

14. Gabriel Bortoleto – DNQ 1:33.774

13. Liam Lawson – DNQ 1:33.714

12. Esteban Ocon – DNQ 1:33.639

11. Nico Hulkenberg – DNQ 1:33.635

Q3 Positions – China GP SPRINT Qualification

10. Isack Hadjar – 1:33.723

9. Oliver Bearman – 1:33.409

8. Max Verstappen – 1:33.254

7. Pierre Gasly – 1:32.888

6. Charles LeClerc – 1:32.528

5. Oscar Piastri – 1:32.224

4. Lewis Hamilton – 1:32.161

3. Lando Norris – 1:32.141

2. Kimi Antonelli – 1:31.809

1. George Russell – 1:31.520