The first sprint qualifying session of the F1 2026 championship gets underway today (Friday, March 13) at the Shanghai International Circuit, so here is all you need to know about how to watch the session live on air.

George Russell praised his Mercedes as a “joy to drive” as he took pole for the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix on Friday to continue his team's dominant start to the new era of Formula 1. Russell is the driver to beat in Shanghai after his dominant win in Australia last week.

A clear guide to F1 qualifying in 2026 including Q1 Q2 Q3 format, sprint qualifying rules and the 107 percent rule explained.

Check out the full report and results from F1 qualifying in Australia.

George Russell swept to the first pole of the 2026 Formula 1 season with a dominant display for Mercedes in Australian GP qualifying

The first qualifying session of the 2026 F1 season is looming large in Melbourne

Keep a running track of the F1 2026 qualifying battles as the season unfolds.

Mercedes continues to enjoy a clear race pace advantage over the rest of the grid while Max Verstappen is looking to turn around a concerning start to the weekend ahead of qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix.