F1 Chinese Grand Prix 2026: How to watch, sprint and race start times, qualifying schedule and more

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After a dramatic opening weekend at the Australian Grand Prix, Formula 1 now heads to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this weekend’s race.

George Russell claimed victory in the first race of the 2026 season in Australia after a dramatic early battle with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Mercedes executed their strategy perfectly, pitting both drivers during an early safety car period triggered when Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull-powered car caught fire.

Ferrari chose not to bring Leclerc or Lewis Hamilton into the pits during the caution, allowing the pair to briefly lead the race. However, once they eventually stopped, they dropped behind the Mercedes drivers, who went on to secure the team’s 61st one-two finish.

Oscar Piastri endured a difficult moment before the race even began. On his way to the grid, the McLaren driver lost control at Turn 4, hitting the wall and sliding across the track. The Australian, who is still yet to finish on the podium at his home Grand Prix, told Sky Sports F1 he had “a bit of an issue out of the pits with no battery basically.”

He added that he had cold tyres and around 100kW more power than expected before clipping the exit kerb, which ultimately caused the crash.

Read More: George Russell wins the Australian Grand Prix as Mercedes claim one-two finish ahead of Ferrari

When is the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, including full weekend schedule

The 2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix will take place from the 13-15 March, marking the first Sprint race weekend of the season.

Saturday’s Sprint around the Shanghai International Circuit is scheduled to begin at 11am local time, with Sunday’s race starting at 3pm the next day.

How to watch the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, including free highlights

Full details on how to watch the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix in your country can be found on the official Formula 1 website.

UK viewers can catch all the action from the Chinese Grand Prix on Sky Sports Main Event, with additional coverage, including practice, qualifying and the sprint race on the Sky Sports F1 channel. Sky Sports packages start at £22 per month. NOW TV customers can also access the race via the Sky Sports pass, with access starting from £27.99 a month.

Free-to-air highlights of the race in Shanghai will be shown on Channel 4 at 1pm on Sunday 15 March.

In the United States, Formula 1 is now available on Apple TV after the broadcaster secured the rights from ESPN last season. Fans who previously subscribed to F1 TV should see savings, having previously paid $129 per year last season compared to Apple TV’s $99 annual subscription.

In Australia, fans can watch the Chinese Grand Prix through Kayo or Foxtel. Kayo is a streaming platform that gives subscribers access to more than 50 live sports, including F1 coverage for $29.99 per month. Foxtel is currently offering a significant discount until 18 May 2026, with its packages starting from $69 per month.

Formula 1 will also upload race highlights from the Chinese Grand Prix to its official YouTube channel later on Sunday following the race.

What is the weather forecast for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix?

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix weekend is expected to be sunny and mild, although it is currently forecast to be lightly cloudy during Sunday’s race.

Friday will reach highs of 15°C, with a gentle north-easterly breeze at 7 mph throughout the day. Temperatures are forecast to rise on Saturday to highs of 17°C and a more moderate 13mph breeze will hit the track from the south east.

Sunday’s main grand prix in Shanghai should stay at 17°C , although a light cloud cover should make it feel slightly cooler. Despite the cloud, there is no risk of rain.

What is the Pirelli tyre allocation for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix?

Pirelli have announced the tyre allocation for the first sprint race of the 2026 season, with the supplier bringing the mid-range C2 Hard, C3 Medium and C4 Soft compounds to the Chinese Grand Prix.

The tyre selection remains unchanged since the Shanghai International Circuit returned to the calendar two years ago, due to the mix of fast and slow corners, as well as the high-speed sections being demanding on the tyres.

The track was completely resurfaced in August 2024, and although it significantly improved grip, the smoother surface caused a lot of graining, especially on the front axle. This was significantly reduced by Sunday, however, due to the track evolution.

Where is the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix held?

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix is held at the Shanghai International Circuit, a 5.451km (3.387 mi) track in the Shanghai suburban district of Jiading in China.

The circuit, designed by Herman Tilke, who also worked on the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Bahrain International Circuit and Yas Marina Circuit, first opened in 2004 and is set to host its 19th running of the Chinese Grand Prix.

In 2019, the Shanghai International Circuit hosted the 1000th Formula 1 grand prix but was then cancelled the following year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although F1 bosses announced plans for races in 2021, 2022 and 2023, the grand prix didn’t return to the calendar until 2024.

Although 18 grands prix have taken place on the track already, the circuit record is still held by Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari F2004 during his final championship run in 2004.

Who won the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix?

Oscar Piastri converted pole position to his first win of the 2025 season at the Chinese Grand Prix. The Australian led from start to finish, crossing the line ahead of his McLaren teammate Lando Norris.

Working on a one-stop strategy, the pair spent most of the closing laps around three seconds apart, although Norris developed a brake problem in the late stages and was told to take no risks by his engineers.

George Russell, who had actually qualified ahead of Norris, briefly reclaimed second when the cars came into pit, but the McLaren driver was quick to get and stay ahead of the Mercedes.

Despite winning the Sprint race the day before, Lewis Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc were both disqualified. Hamilton’s car was found in breach of plank assembly thickness, with Leclerc and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly breaching the car weight regulations.