Franco Colapinto will start 12th in the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday at 4 a.m. Local time, as the Formula 1 season continues its global tour. The second race of the 2026 campaign follows a mixed Saturday for the Argentinian driver, who gained four positions in the Sprint Race but ultimately finished 14th. The result came as George Russell continues his dominant start to the season.
Colapinto’s Sprint Race saw him climb from a 16th-place start, showcasing a strong launch. Yet, Alpine’s overall pace left them ninth in the running order, ahead of only Aston Martin and Cadillac – both teams grappling with reliability issues related to the new regulations.
Qualifying proved incredibly close, with Colapinto missing out on a spot in the Q3 session by just five thousandths of a second. Pierre Gasly of Alpine did manage to advance to Q3, securing seventh place on the grid, eight-tenths of a second behind pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli, who became the youngest poleman in Formula 1 history.
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George Russell won the sprint race, continuing his strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 season, having also dominated the first race in Australia. The Chinese Grand Prix marks the country’s return to the F1 calendar after a hiatus since 2004.
Franco Colapinto finished 14th in the sprint race, two places ahead of his starting position.
The Chinese Grand Prix is a key event in the early stages of the championship, offering valuable points and insights into team performance.
