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Image: Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1
Formula 1 heads to the Shanghai International Circuit this weekend for the second race of the season. The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix will also host the first sprint race of the 2026 season.
Formula 1 barely had time to catch its breath after the season opener in Australia before heading straight to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix, the second round of the 2026 championship. With teams still learning the sport's new regulations and power units, the weekend promises plenty of intrigue as the paddock arrives at a very different circuit.
The sprint weekend format means teams will only have one practice session to dial in their setups before qualifying begins. Friday's running concludes with Sprint Qualifying, which sets the grid for Saturday's sprint race. The sprint itself offers drivers a chance to score points while also providing an indication of race pace ahead of Sunday's main event.
The 2026 F1 Chinese Sprint Race is scheduled for Friday, March 13, with lights out set for 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time for viewers in North America. The 2026 F1 Chinese Grand Prix will go green on Sunday, March 15, at 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
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Image: Red Bull
How to Watch the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix
Broadcast coverage varies by region. In the United States, Formula 1's primary broadcast partner for the 2026 season is Apple TV, which streams every session live.
Apple TV+ carries live coverage of the championship, including practice sessions, qualifying, and the race itself. The event is also available through the sport's official streaming services, F1 TV Pro and F1 TV Premium.
For viewers catching up after the fact, Apple TV will also offer full session replays, highlight packages, and a condensed "Race in 30" format designed to recap the event without spoilers.
The service is available through the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV devices, smart televisions from brands including Samsung and LG, as well as streaming devices such as Roku and Amazon Fire TV. Gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox also support the app.
A subscription costs $12.99 per month in the U.S., with a seven-day free trial available for new users.
In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports continues to carry full live coverage of all F1 sessions. Highlights of the race will also be available on Channel 4. In Canada, viewers can access the broadcast via TSN.
Fans worldwide can also watch F1 TV, the series' official streaming platform.
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Image: McLaren F1
2026 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix Storylines
The Shanghai International Circuit presents a very different test for teams compared with Melbourne. Its layout includes several heavy braking zones and one of the longest straights in Formula 1, placing unique demands on energy deployment and power unit management.
The most critical braking zone comes at Turn 14, at the end of the long back straight, where drivers brake sharply before entering a tight hairpin. The area will likely become a key overtaking point-and a prime location for drivers to deploy energy from the hybrid system. Other important braking areas include Turn 6 and Turn 11, while the unusual Turn 1–2 complex forces drivers through a tightening 270-degree curve that gradually slows the car.
Mercedes left Melbourne looking like the early team to beat. George Russell led home teammate Kimi Antonelli for a dominant 1-2 finish, leading to predictions that the Silver Arrows could be title favorites this season.
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Image: Alpine F1
However, the opening race also indicated the competition might be closer than the result implied. Ferrari ran strongly throughout the weekend, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing third and fourth, and at times challenging Mercedes' race pace. Ferrari knows their car is closer in race trim than in qualifying spec.
McLaren and Red Bull both showed flashes of speed in Australia but struggled to maximize performance from their new cars. Drivers and engineers across the grid know there is still plenty to learn about the new generation of machines. One team hoping for a stronger showing this weekend is Aston Martin. The opening race proved difficult for the squad, with reliability concerns affecting running early in the weekend.
McLaren's Lando Norris suggested the Mercedes power unit may currently be the strongest, while Ferrari appears to have one of the most competitive chassis packages.
The big question heading to Shanghai: will Mercedes maintain its advantage, or can Ferrari-or even McLaren and Red Bull-close the gap on a track with very different characteristics than Albert Park? With teams still learning how to manage the new power units and energy systems introduced this season, Shanghai could produce very different racing dynamics compared with the opener.
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Image: Aston Martin F1
2026 Formula 1 Calendar
March 12-15: Heineken Chinese Grand Prix
March 26-29: Aramco Japanese Grand Prix
April 10-12: Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix
April 17-19: STC Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
May 1-3: Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix
May 22-24: Lenovo Canadian Grand Prix
June 5-7: Monaco Grand Prix
June 12-14: MSC Cruises Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix
June 26-28: Lenovo Austrian Grand Prix
July 3-5: Pirelli British Grand Prix
July 17-19: Belgian Grand Prix
July 24-26: AWS Hungarian Grand Prix
Aug. 21-23: Heineken Dutch Grand Prix
Sep. 4-6: Pirelli Italian Grand Prix
Sep. 11-13: Tag Heuer Spanish Grand Prix
Sep. 24-26: Qatar Airways Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Oct. 9-11: Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix
Oct. 23-25: MSC Cruises United States Grand Prix
Oct. 30-Nov. 1: Mexico City Grand Prix
Nov. 6-8: MSC Cruises São Paulo Grand Prix
Nov. 19-21: Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix
Nov. 27-29: Qatar Airways Qatar Grand Prix
Dec. 4-6: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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