George Russell Leads Mercedes in Dominant Practice Session at Chinese Grand Prix

George Russell continued his impressive form at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix by topping the only practice session, setting a best time of 1:32.741. His performance placed him 0.120 seconds ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli, marking a strong one-two finish for Mercedes at the Shanghai International Circuit. Lando Norris of McLaren secured third place, finishing 0.555 seconds behind Russell, while Oscar Piastri followed closely in fourth. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari rounded out the top five, finishing 0.858 seconds off the pace.

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The practice session began with most drivers opting for medium compound tires, with Russell quickly establishing himself as the driver to beat. He initially set a benchmark time of 1:34.169 before improving significantly in the final minutes when teams switched to soft tires for qualifying simulations. Russell's final lap showcased Mercedes' pace, as he lowered his time to 1:32.741, while Antonelli also improved to 1:32.861.

Mercedes sets the pace in Chinese GP practice

The session was marked by several incidents, including a collision between Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris, which resulted in minor damage but no further action from the stewards. Hamilton later experienced a spin at Turn 6, which led to flat-spotted tires and limited his performance. Additionally, rookie Arvid Lindblad faced mechanical issues, completing only six laps before retiring from the session. Carlos Sainz of Williams also struggled, spending significant time in the garage due to a data issue before managing to complete a few laps.

Chinese GP FP1 Report: George Russell Fastest as Mercedes Seal 1-2, Ferrari Debut ‘Macarena’ Wing

Ferrari debuted their innovative "Macarena" rear wing during this session, which was expected to enhance their performance on the long back straight. However, both Leclerc and Hamilton struggled to match the pace of the Mercedes drivers, finishing fifth and sixth, respectively. Russell expressed caution regarding Ferrari's potential, stating, "I expect Ferrari to be our closest competitors," highlighting the ongoing competition as the season progresses.

'Take nothing for granted' – Mercedes' George Russell wary of Ferrari threat in Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix despite strong start to 2026 campaign

In the lead-up to the race, Russell criticized Ferrari for allegedly blocking changes to the Formula 1 starting procedure, labeling their actions as "selfish" and "a little bit silly." He noted that the FIA aimed to adjust the start procedure to benefit all teams, but Ferrari's competitive edge led to resistance against the proposed changes. Russell emphasized the need for collaboration among teams to improve the sport, stating, "Sometimes when you're trying to make changes for the good of the sport... some teams who were making good starts didn't want it."

George Russell: Mercedes driver says Ferrari are being 'selfish and silly' by preventing changes to F1 start procedure

Ferrari's response to the criticism has not been detailed in the sources, but the team's performance in practice suggests they may need to address their pace relative to Mercedes. Leclerc's earlier comments indicated that while they are not currently at Mercedes' level, they expect to close the gap as the season progresses.

George Russell sets the pace in hectic sole practice session at the Chinese GP

The next event on the schedule is the sprint qualifying session, which will determine the grid for the sprint race. With Mercedes showing strong form, Russell and Antonelli will be looking to capitalize on their practice performance to secure favorable positions ahead of the race weekend.

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