The 2026 Formula 1 season continues this weekend with the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Round two of the championship follows an eventful season opener at the Australian Grand Prix, where George Russell secured victory to lead the early drivers’ standings.
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Shanghai hosts the first sprint weekend of the season, meaning fans will see a condensed schedule featuring sprint qualifying, a sprint race, and the traditional Grand Prix.
The circuit itself remains one of the most distinctive on the calendar, stretching 5.451km with a famously long back straight and a layout inspired by the Chinese character “Shang”, meaning ascend.
Below is everything UK viewers need to know ahead of the weekend’s action.
How to watch the Chinese Grand Prix in the UK
Live coverage of every session from the Chinese Grand Prix will be shown on Sky Sports via the dedicated Sky Sports F1.
Subscribers can also stream the sessions through Sky Go or the Sky Sports app.
For fans without a subscription, highlights of qualifying and the race will be available free-to-air on Channel 4 later in the day.
Because the race takes place in China, UK viewers will need an early start across the weekend.
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Chinese Grand Prix schedule and UK start times
The race weekend runs from Friday 13 March to Sunday 15 March and follows the sprint format used at selected events throughout the season.
Friday 13 March
- Free Practice 1 – 03:30 (UK)
- Sprint Qualifying – 07:30 (UK)
Saturday 14 March
- Sprint Race – 03:00 (UK)
- Qualifying – 07:00 (UK)
Sunday 15 March
- Chinese Grand Prix – 07:00 (UK)
The race itself starts at 15:00 local time in Shanghai, which corresponds to 07:00 in the United Kingdom.
What happened at the Australian Grand Prix?
The opening round of the season in Melbourne produced an early shake-up in the championship standings.
George Russell delivered a commanding performance to win the Australian Grand Prix, putting Mercedes at the top of the early title fight.
Behind him, the grid showed signs of close competition between several teams, with strong early pace from Ferrari and McLaren during the opening race weekend.
With the championship still in its early stages, the Chinese Grand Prix could quickly shift momentum as teams adapt to the new season’s regulations and upgrades.
What to expect from the Chinese GP weekend
Shanghai’s layout traditionally encourages overtaking thanks to its long straight and heavy braking zones, often producing unpredictable racing.
This year’s sprint format adds further intrigue, with drivers fighting for points across both the sprint race and Sunday’s Grand Prix.
With the championship already underway and teams eager to build momentum after Australia, the Chinese Grand Prix could provide the first major turning point of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
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