Mercedes Dominates Shanghai Practice as Sprint Format Takes Center Stage

Mercedes has sent an unmistakable message to its rivals at the Chinese Grand Prix, with both of its drivers showcasing superior pace during the day's only practice session.

The opening practice run on Friday morning saw George Russell post the fastest lap, clocking a time of 1m34.169s as he guided his car through the early stages of the session on medium compound tyres. His teammate Kimi Antonelli proved equally competitive, with the Mercedes pair demonstrating a clear edge over the rest of the field.

Shanghai marks a significant milestone on the 2026 calendar as the first sprint event of the year. This means the traditional Friday schedule has been condensed, with drivers receiving just one practice opportunity before attention turns to the sprint qualifying format that will shape the weekend's proceedings.

The strong showing from both Russell and Antonelli provides Mercedes with valuable momentum heading into the unique demands of a sprint weekend, where the compressed format leaves no room for error or extended setup adjustments. Having established themselves as pace-setters in the opening encounter, the Brackley-based outfit will be looking to convert this early advantage into competitive success across the various race formats ahead.