The Mercedes driver finished ahead of Charles Leclerc, while Lewis Hamilton secured third place after overtaking Lando Norris late in the race
George Russell continued his strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 season by winning the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
How did George Russell win the Chinese GP sprint?
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George Russell secured victory in the sprint race at the 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix after a commanding drive at the Shanghai International Circuit. The Mercedes driver started from pole position and controlled much of the 19-lap race, eventually finishing 0.674 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
Russell’s early advantage was briefly threatened after a safety car period triggered by Nico Hülkenberg stopping on track. However, a slower restart from Leclerc allowed Russell to pull away again and maintain a comfortable lead until the chequered flag.
Hamilton completes Ferrari double podium
Lewis Hamilton finished third for Ferrari after overtaking McLaren’s Lando Norris on the penultimate lap. Hamilton had earlier battled for the lead during the opening laps but could not match Russell’s pace in the closing stages. Norris finished fourth, while Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli recovered to fifth despite serving a 10-second time penalty during the race.
Midfield battles and Verstappen outside points
Oscar Piastri took sixth place for McLaren, followed by Liam Lawson and Haas rookie Oliver Bearman. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who started eighth on the grid, struggled at the start and ultimately finished ninth, just outside the points-paying positions for the sprint race.
Further down the order, Esteban Ocon completed the top ten, while drivers including Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz and Alexander Albon finished outside the points. Nico Hülkenberg retired from the race after triggering the safety car, while Valtteri Bottas and Arvid Lindblad also failed to finish.
Russell strengthens championship lead
The sprint win continues Russell’s perfect start to the season. After securing pole position earlier in the weekend and winning the sprint race, the Mercedes driver has extended his early championship lead.
With the season still in its opening phase, Russell now sits at the top of the drivers’ standings with a clear advantage over Leclerc and Antonelli, reinforcing Mercedes’ strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.
Published: 14 Mar 2026, 09:24 am IST
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