Antonelli becomes F1’s youngest-ever polesitter, Verstappen qualifies outside of the top seven at successive races for the first time in almost ten years and McLaren equal their longest double Q3 appearance streak. Here are the facts and statistics from qualifying at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix!
ANTONELLI ON POLE AT THE 2026 CHINESE GRAND PRIX
Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, securing the first Grand Prix pole of his career. It is the second time he’ll start a race from the front of the grid, after the Sprint at the 2025 Miami Grand Prix.
At the age of 19 years, 6 months and 18 days, Antonelli became Formula 1’s youngest-ever Grand Prix polesitter. He took the record from Sebastian Vettel, who had held it since taking pole at the age of 21 years, 2 months and 11 days at the 2008 Italian Grand Prix.
Antonelli is the first Italian driver to take pole position since Giancarlo Fisichella at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix, over 16 years ago.
This was Mercedes’ first pole position in China since 2019.
George Russell qualified second following mechanical issues. Mercedes secured their third front row lock-out in China, after 2015 and 2019.
This was Russell’s second front row qualification at the Chinese Grand Prix. He also qualified second in 2025.
2026 is the first time in his four Shanghai appearances that Russell has been out-qualified by his team-mate.
IN THE TOP TEN
Lewis Hamilton qualified third for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, recording his first top three qualifying result since the 2025 Mexico City Grand Prix. The last time he qualified above third was at the 2024 British Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc qualified fourth, continuing his streak of 19 successive Q3 appearances.
Leclerc equalled his best Chinese Grand Prix qualifying result, having last qualified fourth here in 2019.
Hamilton out-qualified Leclerc for the first time since the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix. It is the sixth time that Hamilton has qualified ahead for a Grand Prix in their time as Ferrari team-mates.
For the 30th race weekend in a row, both McLaren drivers reached Q3 at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix. It equalled the team’s longest streak of double Q3 appearances, last recorded between the 2007 Australian Grand Prix and the 2008 Belgian Grand Prix. It is the third longest such streak by any team.
Lando Norris qualified sixth for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, qualifying sixth for the second successive race weekend. It is the first time he has qualified outside of the top five at two races in a row since the 2025 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix.
With Oscar Piastri fifth, this is the first time neither McLaren has qualified on the front two rows of the grid at two races in a row since the start of the 2024 season.
Piastri remains yet to qualify outside of the top five in his three visits to Shanghai International Circuit.
Pierre Gasly qualified seventh for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix – his best qualifying result since qualifying fifth for the 2025 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Gasly recorded the Enstone team’s first Q3 appearance in Shanghai since 2019.
With seventh place, Gasly equalled the team’s best qualifying result at the Chinese Grand Prix from the past decade.
Max Verstappen qualified eighth for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix. Having been out in Q1 at the Australian Grand Prix, this is the first time he has qualified outside of the top seven at two races in a row since the 2016 European and Austrian Grands Prix, almost ten years ago.
This was Verstappen’s worst Chinese Grand Prix qualifying result since 2017.
Ollie Bearman reached Q3 for the first time since the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Bearman recorded the Haas team’s fifth Q3 appearance at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen was the only driver who was eliminated in Q1 in Australia who was not out in Q1 again at the Chinese Grand Prix.
ELIMINATED IN Q2
Nico Hulkenberg qualified 11th for the sixth time in the last nine race weekends.
Qualifying 13th, Esteban Ocon overtook Romain Grosjean as the driver with the most appearances without taking a pole position.
This was the first time that neither of the Racing Bulls reached Q3 since the 2025 United States Grand Prix.
Liam Lawson out-qualified his team-mate at successive races for the first time in his career.
OUT IN Q1
Aston Martin recorded double Q1 exits at successive races since the 2022 British and Austrian Grands Prix.
This was the Silverstone-based team’s first double Q1 exit at the Chinese Grand Prix since 2009.
Lance Stroll recorded his third Q1 exit at the Chinese Grand Prix, equalling the record for most Q1 eliminations at Shanghai International Circuit. The record is now shared between seven drivers: Stroll, Adrian Sutil, Esteban Gutiérrez, Giancarlo Fisichella, Heikki Kovalainen, Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock.
Stroll remains yet to out-qualify his team-mate on any of his six Chinese Grand Prix appearances.
Fernando Alonso recorded his worst Chinese Grand Prix qualifying result with 19th place. His previous worst was 18th, with McLaren in 2015.
Williams recorded their first double Q1 exit since the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Alex Albon was the only driver who was not out in Q1 at the Australian Grand Prix who was eliminated in Q1 at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Carlos Sainz recorded his first-ever Q1 exit in Shanghai.
Cadillac recorded a double Q1 exit for the second weekend in a row. Sergio Perez recorded his first-ever Q1 exit at the Chinese Grand Prix, while Valtteri Bottas recorded his first Q1 exit in China since his first appearance in 2013.