Official 2026 Chinese Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

Round 2 already and we’re in China. Hopefully they’ll be no invasion of Taiwan this weekend as that would be super awkward for F1.

Just to add to the fun, this is a Sprint weekend so teams will have just one session to set the cars up, so expect the unexpected. Shanghai should be better for battery charging with more hard braking than Melbourne.

Mercedes must be favourite after last weekend, but Ferrari wasn’t too far off and Max will want a more straightforward weekend. Aston and Williams are hopefully busy addressing what look to be fundamental engine and chassis problems respectively.

Here’s to a great race.

Date(s): Friday 13 to Sunday 15 March 2026

UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1. Channel 4 is showing highlights of all competitive sessions.





2025 Highlights: Oscar win, both Ferrari’s DQ

https://youtu.be/Hml6MaRRkn8?si=83x6HrySbAduQk8i

Tyres:

Medium compounds: C2 C3 C4



2025 Result:

[garythesign]

Thanks for starting these threads before each race.

I enjoyed yesterdays race. All the doom and gloom that was spoken about in the off season was not as bad as expected

[Piginapoke]

garythesign said:

Thanks for starting these threads before each race.

I enjoyed yesterdays race. All the doom and gloom that was spoken about in the off season was not as bad as expected

Morning Gary- yes it was better than most expected and I enjoyed the early laps.

How's Zorro? Enzo is thriving (and getting a bit fat)

[Still Mulling]

Thanks, PiaP!

Another mid-Sunday highlights on C4...Mrs SM will be thrilled!

[suffolk009]

I voted Hamilton for the win. It's perhaps a slightly less stupidly optimistic vote than it was this time last week.

[kambites]

From what we saw in Australia, I think Ferrari could run Mercedes very close here. I still think Mercedes will have the edge, though, and even if they don't Ferrari will find a way to throw the race away.

[eps]

suffolk009 said:

I voted Hamilton for the win. It's perhaps a slightly less stupidly optimistic vote than it was this time last week.

Same! If he can qualify well then he should be challenging at the front. Although Leclerc seems to have started the season well as well. It will just be good to see a decent battle at the front.

[EmailAddress]

Lando got off lightly without his papaya pal.

Max will be back.

Hadjar will be in the mix.

Sprinkle in some young-blud.

Should be fun.

[thegreenhell]

How far along the 1.3km straight will they get before super-clipping kicks in?

[Hustle_]

^ Yep, came here to say that. I am positive on the whole about the new regs but China could be a bit of a bad one. I expect we'll see some less than desirable PU attributes on the straights and some interesting driver struggles as they try to balance the car while regenning around those long corners.

The two long straights come in quick succession so that big braking zone into the hairpin is going to be an absolutely mammoth regen zone.

Edited by Hustle_ on Monday 9th March 11:09

[EmailAddress]

I'm hoping the Tv peeps find an aesthetically pleasing way to show us battery/ button usage for more than just onboards, and specific moments.

Would be nice for some of the wides too.

Particularly during the cat and mouse first 10/ 20 laps.

[BrettMRC]

Expecting a lot more attrition over this weekend due to the sprint race etc.

Sprint:
LEC
HAM
RUS


Race:
LEC
RUS
HAM

[LarJammer]

Thanks Piap, you are contributing much more to F1 than Horner this year.
I reckon Max will be in the mix this weekend.

[Arrivalist]

Thanks PiaP - as always

I have no idea how this one is going to go so, based on Lewis managing and demanding his own strategy in China, I'm going for a Lewis win or at least second in both the sprint and the race.

Born optimist, am I.

[Derek Smith]

Thanks PiaP. Wouldn't be a race weekend without you. Have you got anything planned for April?

I enjoyed Oz. Hopefull, China will be just as fascinating.

[Gary29]

Well I'm not staying up / getting up for the sprint at 3am, to listen to Croft talk about sweet shops that's for sure! I can just about stomach the 7am start on Sunday.

Will the cars be lifting 500M before the hairpin at the end of the long straight now? Should make for an interesting spectacle. They might need to move the speed trap back up the straight a little bit!

Thanks PiaP, your valuable service never goes unnoticed.

[Still Mulling]

LarJammer said:

Thanks Piap, you are contributing much more to F1 than Horner this year.

What a backhanded compliment!

[diver944]

Really enjoyed Melbourne, be nice if the back markers close the huuuuge gap before mid season (but I doubt it).

I'm wondering if we might see multiple cat n mouse overtakes during that long straight

[Dermot O'Logical]

thegreenhell said:

How far along the 1.3km straight will they get before super-clipping kicks in?

This could be a massive problem, with several cars being wiped out in a huge shower of carbon fibre shards and recriminations!

Next year's race could feature a chicane half way down the straight.

[EmailAddress]

Could someone summarise the sweet shop thing.

Seeing this about the place.

Something Croft said?