Published: March 14, 2026 at 10:17 am
George Russell continued with his top performance for the season as he claimed Sprint victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, following an early frenetic battle for the lead and surviving a late Safety Car.
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.
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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 teammate, 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.
George Russell held lead from pole but was challenged by the Ferrari drivers. Pics: formula1.com
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.
I’ve got a little bit to learn there, says Russell
“It’s really windy at the moment,” said Russell. “It’s not easy because this first corner is so long and it only takes one lap of pushing too much and you can destroy your front left tyre, so it was just sort of managing, and especially when we were battling. Lewis did an amazing job in the early laps – he caught me off guard – but [that’s] 20 years’ experience, so I’ve still got a little bit to learn there!”
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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.
The second McLaren of 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.
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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, the second Cadillac of Valtteri Bottas and Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad failed to finish, the latter having suffered an opening lap spin while Bottas suffered a loss of power.
