Facts, stats and trivia ahead of the 2026 Chinese GP

Formula 1 heads to the Shanghai International Circuit for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, the second round of the season and the first Sprint weekend of the campaign. Following their dominant 1-2 finish in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Mercedes enters the weekend as the team to beat, though Ferrari’s George Russell and Kimi Antonelli will be wary of the threat posed by Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, who displayed impressive pace in Melbourne. The Shanghai track, known for its unique 360-degree corner and long straights, will feature a revised tyre allocation due to the Sprint format, with Pirelli providing C2, C3, and C4 compounds. Teams are also analyzing the track's surface, which was resurfaced in 2024, to see if the graining issues seen in previous years persist. Meanwhile, Red Bull looks to bounce back after a difficult Australian GP where Max Verstappen staged a recovery drive and Isack Hadjar suffered a retirement. McLaren and the midfield pack, including strong performances from Haas’s Oliver Bearman and Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad, are all eager to capitalize on the unique demands of the Shanghai circuit as the championship battle intensifies.