F1 Race Schedule
Round 2 · SQ · Final result

Chinese Grand Prix 2026
Sprint Qualifying Results

Sprint Qualifying uses SQ1, SQ2 and SQ3 to set the starting grid for the Sprint.

Session start · your timeFri, Mar 13 · 07:30 UTC
Start

Fri, Mar 13 · 07:30 UTC

Scheduled finish

2026-03-13T08:14:00Z

Scheduled window

44 min

Times may change during the weekend.

Circuit

Shanghai

Shanghai, China

Status

Final result

Sprint weekend

SQ · 21 drivers

Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying Results

Race weekend schedule
21 drivers
PosNo.DriverTeamSQ1SQ2SQ3
163George RussellRUSMercedes1:33.0301:32.2411:31.520
212Andrea Kimi AntonelliANTMercedes1:33.4551:32.2911:31.809
31Lando NorrisNORMcLaren1:33.7831:33.0861:32.141
444Lewis HamiltonHAMFerrari1:33.1481:33.0421:32.161
581Oscar PiastriPIAMcLaren1:33.8131:33.0381:32.224
616Charles LeclercLECFerrari1:33.1941:32.6021:32.528
710Pierre GaslyGASAlpine F1 Team1:33.9701:33.4051:32.888
83Max VerstappenVERRed Bull Racing1:34.1701:33.5641:33.254
987Oliver BearmanBEAHaas F1 Team1:34.2801:33.5011:33.409
106Isack HadjarHADRed Bull Racing1:34.4471:33.6201:33.723
1127Nico HülkenbergHULAudi1:33.9971:33.635
1231Esteban OconOCOHaas F1 Team1:34.0871:33.639
1330Liam LawsonLAWRacing Bulls1:34.1101:33.714
145Gabriel BortoletoBORAudi1:34.2911:33.774
1541Arvid LindbladLINRacing Bulls1:34.4951:34.048
1643Franco ColapintoCOLAlpine F1 Team1:34.5921:34.327
1755Carlos SainzSAIWilliams1:34.761
1823Alexander AlbonALBWilliams1:35.305
1914Fernando AlonsoALOAston Martin1:35.581
2018Lance StrollSTRAston Martin1:36.151
2177Valtteri BottasBOTCadillac F1 Team1:37.378
Lap analysis

Sprint Qualifying Fastest Laps and Sector Pace

DriverLapsBest lapBest S1Best S2Best S3Top speed
George RussellMercedes1391.520s23.962s27.569s39.989s320 km/h
Andrea Kimi AntonelliMercedes1391.809s23.966s27.558s40.213s318 km/h
Lando NorrisMcLaren1392.141s23.961s27.616s40.549s314 km/h
Lewis HamiltonFerrari1592.161s24.110s27.694s40.357s318 km/h
Oscar PiastriMcLaren1392.224s23.913s27.793s40.518s313 km/h
Charles LeclercFerrari1692.528s24.105s27.770s40.312s312 km/h
Pierre GaslyAlpine F1 Team1592.888s24.293s27.840s40.703s322 km/h
Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing1793.254s24.404s28.258s40.532s318 km/h
Oliver BearmanHaas F1 Team1693.409s24.401s28.079s40.745s317 km/h
Isack HadjarRed Bull Racing1593.620s24.478s28.236s40.493s321 km/h
Nico HülkenbergAudi1493.635s24.629s28.261s40.635s321 km/h
Esteban OconHaas F1 Team1393.639s24.553s28.141s40.902s312 km/h
Liam LawsonRacing Bulls1393.714s24.645s28.293s40.757s320 km/h
Gabriel BortoletoAudi1493.774s24.568s28.280s40.761s321 km/h
Arvid LindbladRacing Bulls1394.048s24.740s28.508s40.777s321 km/h
Franco ColapintoAlpine F1 Team1294.327s24.681s28.661s40.946s321 km/h
Carlos SainzWilliams694.761s24.801s28.785s41.168s325 km/h
Alexander AlbonWilliams695.305s24.828s28.949s41.447s325 km/h
Fernando AlonsoAston Martin595.581s25.123s28.884s41.574s306 km/h
Lance StrollAston Martin796.151s25.151s29.040s41.838s310 km/h
Valtteri BottasCadillac F1 Team897.378s25.110s29.014s43.111s290 km/h
Tyre strategy

Sprint Qualifying Stints

DriverStintTyreLapsStart age
Alexander Albon1MEDIUM1–60 laps
Andrea Kimi Antonelli3SOFT9–130 laps
Arvid Lindblad2MEDIUM8–130 laps
Carlos Sainz1MEDIUM1–60 laps
Charles Leclerc4SOFT12–160 laps
Esteban Ocon2MEDIUM8–130 laps
Fernando Alonso1MEDIUM1–50 laps
Franco Colapinto1MEDIUM1–60 laps
Franco Colapinto2MEDIUM7–120 laps
Gabriel Bortoleto2MEDIUM9–140 laps
George Russell3SOFT9–130 laps
Isack Hadjar3SOFT13–150 laps
Lance Stroll1MEDIUM1–70 laps
Lando Norris3SOFT11–130 laps
Lewis Hamilton3SOFT11–150 laps
Liam Lawson2MEDIUM8–130 laps
Max Verstappen3SOFT13–170 laps
Nico Hülkenberg2MEDIUM9–140 laps
Oliver Bearman3SOFT14–167 laps
Oscar Piastri3SOFT11–130 laps
Pierre Gasly1MEDIUM1–60 laps
Pierre Gasly2MEDIUM7–120 laps
Pierre Gasly3SOFT13–150 laps
Valtteri Bottas1MEDIUM1–80 laps
Pit lane

Sprint Qualifying Pit Stops

DriverLapStopPit lane
Valtteri Bottas1
Isack Hadjar1
Max Verstappen1
Nico Hülkenberg1
Gabriel Bortoleto1
Esteban Ocon1
Oliver Bearman1
Lance Stroll1
Liam Lawson1
Arvid Lindblad1
Charles Leclerc1
Lewis Hamilton1
Oscar Piastri1
Lando Norris1
Pierre Gasly1
Franco Colapinto1
Carlos Sainz1
Alexander Albon1
Andrea Kimi Antonelli1
George Russell1
Fernando Alonso1
Andrea Kimi Antonelli4713.100s
George Russell4727.500s
Oscar Piastri5619.400s
Lando Norris5622.000s
Lewis Hamilton6603.500s
Pierre Gasly7333.700s
Franco Colapinto7340.700s
Oliver Bearman8363.600s
Isack Hadjar8417.200s
Max Verstappen8424.700s
Arvid Lindblad8396.300s
Liam Lawson8407.600s
Esteban Ocon8420.300s
Charles Leclerc8407.300s
Nico Hülkenberg9270.000s
Gabriel Bortoleto9271.400s
Andrea Kimi Antonelli9367.100s
George Russell9355.200s
Charles Leclerc11156.100s
Lewis Hamilton11409.100s
Lando Norris11639.500s
Oscar Piastri11649.500s
Charles Leclerc12371.500s
Max Verstappen13439.300s
Pierre Gasly13590.800s
Isack Hadjar13726.600s
Oliver Bearman14621.700s
Track conditions

Sprint Qualifying Weather

Air temperature15.7–16.9°C
Track temperature25.3–30.9°C
Humidity26%
RainNone recorded
Official decisions

Flags and Session Messages

Flag· GREEN

GREEN LIGHT - PIT EXIT OPEN

SessionStatus

SESSION STARTED

Other

CAR 18 (STR) TIME 1:38.378 DELETED - TRACK LIMITS AT TURN 9 LAP 3 15:33:33

Other

CAR 5 (BOR) TIME 1:38.344 DELETED - TRACK LIMITS AT TURN 16 LAP 6 15:39:17

Other

CAR 87 (BEA) TIME 1:35.160 DELETED - TRACK LIMITS AT TURN 16 LAP 7 15:41:31

SessionStatus

SESSION FINISHED

Flag· CHEQUERED

CHEQUERED FLAG

Other

FIRST CAR TO TAKE THE FLAG - CAR 10 (GAS)

Flag· DOUBLE YELLOW

DOUBLE YELLOW IN TRACK SECTOR 11

Flag· DOUBLE YELLOW

DOUBLE YELLOW IN TRACK SECTOR 19

Other

FIA STEWARDS: SQ1 INCIDENT INVOLVING CARS 18 (STR), 44 (HAM), 30 (LAW), 41 (LIN), 55 (SAI) AND 23 (ALB) NOTED - FAILING TO FOLLOW RACE DIRECTORS INSTRUCTIONS - MAXIMUM DELTA TIME

Flag· CLEAR

CLEAR IN TRACK SECTOR 11

Other

FIA STEWARDS: SQ1 INCIDENT INVOLVING CARS 18 (STR), 44 (HAM), 30 (LAW), 41 (LIN), 55 (SAI) AND 23 (ALB) WILL BE INVESTIGATED AFTER THE SESSION - FAILING TO FOLLOW RACE DIRECTORS INSTRUCTIONS - MAXIMUM DELTA TIME

Flag· CLEAR

CLEAR IN TRACK SECTOR 19

Flag· GREEN

GREEN LIGHT - PIT EXIT OPEN

SessionStatus

SESSION STARTED

Other

TURN 1 INCIDENT INVOLVING CARS 12 (ANT) AND 1 (NOR) NOTED - IMPEDING

Other

CAR 3 (VER) TIME 1:37.553 DELETED - TRACK LIMITS AT TURN 16 LAP 12 15:57:12

Other

TURN 14 INCIDENT INVOLVING CARS 10 (GAS) AND 3 (VER) NOTED - IMPEDING

Flag· CHEQUERED

CHEQUERED FLAG

SessionStatus

SESSION FINISHED

Other

FIA STEWARDS: TURN 1 INCIDENT INVOLVING CARS 12 (ANT) AND 1 (NOR) WILL BE INVESTIGATED AFTER THE SESSION - IMPEDING

Other

FIRST CAR TO TAKE THE FLAG - CAR 43 (COL)

Flag· DOUBLE YELLOW

DOUBLE YELLOW IN TRACK SECTOR 11

Flag· DOUBLE YELLOW

DOUBLE YELLOW IN TRACK SECTOR 19

Other

FIA STEWARDS: SQ2 INCIDENT INVOLVING CARS 12 (ANT), 5 (BOR) AND 63 (RUS) NOTED - FAILING TO FOLLOW RACE DIRECTORS INSTRUCTIONS - MAXIMUM DELTA TIME

Other

FIA STEWARDS: SQ2 INCIDENT INVOLVING CARS 12 (ANT), 5 (BOR) AND 63 (RUS) WILL BE INVESTIGATED AFTER THE SESSION - FAILING TO FOLLOW RACE DIRECTORS INSTRUCTIONS - MAXIMUM DELTA TIME

Flag· CLEAR

CLEAR IN TRACK SECTOR 11

Flag· CLEAR

CLEAR IN TRACK SECTOR 19

Other

FIA STEWARDS: TURN 14 INCIDENT INVOLVING CARS 10 (GAS) AND 3 (VER) WILL BE INVESTIGATED AFTER THE SESSION - IMPEDING

SessionStatus

SESSION STARTED

Flag· GREEN

GREEN LIGHT - PIT EXIT OPEN

Flag· CHEQUERED

CHEQUERED FLAG

SessionStatus

SESSION FINISHED

Other

FIRST CAR TO TAKE THE FLAG - CAR 44 (HAM)

Other

FIA STEWARDS: SQ3 INCIDENT INVOLVING CAR 44 (HAM) NOTED - FAILING TO FOLLOW RACE DIRECTORS INSTRUCTIONS - MAXIMUM DELTA TIME

Other

FIA STEWARDS: SQ3 INCIDENT INVOLVING CAR 44 (HAM) WILL BE INVESTIGATED AFTER THE SESSION - FAILING TO FOLLOW RACE DIRECTORS INSTRUCTIONS - MAXIMUM DELTA TIME

Other

FIA STEWARDS: SQ1 INCIDENT INVOLVING CARS 18 (STR), 44 (HAM), 30 (LAW), 41 (LIN), 55 (SAI) AND 23 (ALB) NO FURTHER ACTION - FAILING TO FOLLOW RACE DIRECTORS INSTRUCTIONS - MAXIMUM DELTA TIME

Other

FIA STEWARDS: SQ2 INCIDENT INVOLVING CARS 12 (ANT), 5 (BOR) AND 63 (RUS) NO FURTHER ACTION - FAILING TO FOLLOW RACE DIRECTORS INSTRUCTIONS - MAXIMUM DELTA TIME

Other

FIA STEWARDS: SQ3 INCIDENT INVOLVING CAR 44 (HAM) NO FURTHER ACTION - FAILING TO FOLLOW RACE DIRECTORS INSTRUCTIONS - MAXIMUM DELTA TIME

Flag· DOUBLE YELLOW

DOUBLE YELLOW IN TRACK SECTOR 19

Flag· DOUBLE YELLOW

DOUBLE YELLOW IN TRACK SECTOR 11

Flag· CLEAR

CLEAR IN TRACK SECTOR 19

Session guide

About Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying

What happens in Sprint Qualifying?

Sprint Qualifying uses SQ1, SQ2 and SQ3 to set the starting grid for the Sprint.

Where is the session held?

At Shanghai in Shanghai, China, during Round 2 of the 2026 season. It is listed as a permanent circuit.

What comes next?

Use the session tabs above to follow the weekend in order, from the first practice run through to the Grand Prix.

Event details: FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN CHINESE GRAND PRIX 2026·Round 2·Sprint weekend·Track timezone: Asia/Shanghai