The opening round of the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai produced immediate drama, with Lewis Hamilton making a masterful start. The eventful start to the race in Shanghai was marked by a stunning lead change and a nightmare session for several teams.
From P3, Lewis Hamilton made a lightning-fast launch, overtaking polesitter Kimi Antonelli to claim P1 at the first corner. Charles Leclerc took advantage of the hectic start and moved into third place, putting both Ferraris into the top three early on.
In a shocking turn of events, neither McLaren was able to start the race from the grid. Lando Norris remained in the garage with technical problems while Oscar Piastri had to make a pit lane start.
The grid was thinned out significantly before the first round ended. Together with the McLarens, Gabriel Bortoleto and Alex Albon were unable to participate.
Ollie Bearman and Isack Hadjar were involved in a fierce fight that ended when Hadjar spun off the track. Hadjar’s spin and Bearman’s aggressive positioning set the tone of high intensity for the rest of the Grand Prix.
Ultimately, the opening lap turned a well-balanced grid into a Ferrari-led masterclass, leaving the rivals to recover from a disastrous start.
