FP1 Report: Mercedes Set the Pace as Shanghai Returns to the Calendar

Mercedes Pick Up Where They Left Off

The W17 looked immediately comfortable on the Shanghai International Circuit's 5.451 km layout. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli both completed their programmes without incident, and Mercedes' long-run pace on the C3 medium compound appeared to carry a structural advantage over Ferrari and McLaren through the high-speed Turn 7-8 complex.

With only one practice session available on a sprint weekend before Sprint Qualifying later today, teams were forced to balance setup work, tyre evaluation, and qualifying preparation in a compressed 60-minute window. The C2/C3/C4 allocation from Pirelli mirrors the Australian Grand Prix compound selection.

Ferrari and McLaren: Early Impressions

Ferrari looked competitive through the technical middle sector, with both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc running extensive programmes on the medium compound. McLaren completed their running cleanly — a priority after the battery-related issues that overshadowed Piastri's weekend in Melbourne.

Red Bull's Ongoing Struggles

Max Verstappen's session was disrupted by what the team described as a calibration issue with the ERS deployment mapping. The RB22 completed fewer laps than any other frontrunning car, and Verstappen's best time was set on a compromised run. After the qualifying crash and recovery drive in Melbourne, Red Bull arrive in Shanghai with questions still unanswered about their baseline competitiveness under the new regulations.

Sprint Weekend Context

Shanghai's 16 turns, two DRS zones, and high tyre degradation characteristics present a different challenge to Albert Park. The abrasive surface punishes rear tyres in particular, and the long back straight rewards power unit deployment efficiency — an area where Mercedes have shown a clear advantage in the early races of 2026.