George Russell continued his 100% winning start to the Formula 1 season in 2026 with his Sprint triumph, claiming Sprint victory at the Chinese Grand Prix. He finished ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, following an early frenetic battle for the lead and surviving a late Safety Car.
Russell Holds Off Hamilton and Leclerc
The Mercedes driver started from pole for the 19-lap Sprint on Saturday, and unlike a week ago in Australia, Russell held the lead through the opening corners before conceding the position to a surging Hamilton at Turn 9. The Ferrari man had started fourth on the grid.
The pair engaged in a tussle for the lead, swapping positions across the early laps until Russell made the decisive move into the Turn 14 hairpin on Lap 5, pulling a gap to both Hamilton and Leclerc.
Leclerc eventually got the better of his team mate, finishing just 0.6 seconds behind Russell, the leading drivers having made a late pit stop following a Safety Car that was called when Nico Hulkenberg’s stricken Audi needed to be retrieved.
Antonelli’s Difficult Sprint
Hamilton recovered to third having dropped behind Lando Norris, the seven-time World Champion forced to stack behind Leclerc after the late flurry in the pits.
Norris claimed fourth from the second Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli, the young Italian having suffered a poor start from the front row and forced to serve a 10-second penalty in the pits after a collision with Isack Hadjar on the opening lap.
Points for Lawson and Bearman
Oscar Piastri finished sixth after being overtaken late on by Antonelli, with Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Haas’ Ollie Bearman claiming the final points on offer after not pitting under the late caution.
Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Esteban Ocon (Haas) completed the top 10, and were followed by Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Carlos Sainz (Williams), Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto and the second Alpine of Franco Colapinto.
Hadjar came home P15 from Alex Albon (Williams), the Aston Martins of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, with Sergio Perez the final classified runner for Cadillac.
Hulkenberg, Valtteri Bottas and Arvid Lindblad failed to finish, the latter having suffered an opening lap spin while Bottas suffered a loss of power.
Opening Lap Action
As the lights went out to signal the start of the Sprint, Russell initially held his lead from pole through the opening corners. However, Hamilton was on the charge from his P4 starting slot, having demoted Antonelli off the line and passing Norris into Turn 1.
The seven-time World Champion then took the lead with a dive to the inside at Turn 9 before Russell fought back along the back straight into the Turn 14 hairpin.
Hamilton was back ahead around the outside of Turn 1 at the start of Lap 2 and the pair continued to trade places over the opening laps, allowing Leclerc from P6 to move within range, as Norris headed Piastri further back.
Behind, Antonelli made contact with Hadjar at Turn 4, the young Mercedes driver…
George Russell claimed Sprint victory at the Chinese Grand Prix.