2026 Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai, March 13-15

[CHT]

It’s good to watch the initial stints between Fer/Merc, but the inevitability that Merc coming out on top will quickly tire. Can basically copy and paste this yo-yoing for the next 20 weekends. Will only be the street tracks, whereby you give Ferrari a chance of holding out.

As for Lewis, he looks transformed. Many expected him to be destroyed by Charles. It isn’t happening.

LH is always strong in China..just like last year where he won the sprint before being DQ

[vanburin]

to whoever said lewis was washed... im not a huge fan of his but you couldn't be more wrong.

He is not at the level of the elite prime age drivers in Verstappen, Russell and Leclerc. The new group of rookies who have spent hours on high quality simulators as kids, are on another level too.

Actual results so far this year don't support this hypothesis.

Excellent qualifying all around. It does appear Ferrari closed the gap slightly over the week. That or possibly more likely the Shanghai circuit favours their car more than Aus did. Either way, Mercedes has an advantage but it's not 2014 levels. Ferrari is right there if either Merc has a slip-up.

On the other end of the spectrum, what a post-qualy interview from Max.

[LeQuick]

It’s good to watch the initial stints between Fer/Merc, but the inevitability that Merc coming out on top will quickly tire. Can basically copy and paste this yo-yoing for the next 20 weekends. Will only be the street tracks, whereby you give Ferrari a chance of holding out.

As for Lewis, he looks transformed. Many expected him to be destroyed by Charles. It isn’t happening.

LH is always strong in China..just like last year where he won the sprint before being DQ

Don't know if it means much, but relatively speaking, Lewis was actually stronger in the sprint compared to today.

[search]

here's also the official tire list now, and some strategy ideas from Pirelli. It didn't really look like a one-stopper to me today, but they made it work last year as well, so who knows.




(I missed one of Lawsons runs and Red Bull, Stroll and Bottas returned a used medium instead of the used soft. Otherwise it's the same as above)

[PlatinumZealot]

I'm just watching qualifying now on F1 TV. Up to q2 and I must that as a 41 year old LH is pretty close to the fastest man in qualifying, Leclerc, in his prime. Nothing to be ashamed of if he loses to Charles this year.

The killer for LH last year was Q and being stuck in the pack in the first stint. That won’t happen this year, and he can challenge CL from the get go. Can see already that CL does not like that the landscape has changed, by that ridiculous radio message during the sprint.

Their inter team battle will likely be the highlight of the year.

I'm not sure if you refering to the Ferrari landscape or the sport landscape but for the former, I wouldn't say Charles doesn't like it. I think he is just frustrated that Ferrari is not dominant after another year of loyalty. I get a lot of flack for saying that he will soon benefit from Lewis' input on how a championship car is supposed to feel. Perhaps some slight driving style changes there for Charles. But with that said, for me it still looks like Charles is wrangling the car better than Lewis and I'm getting the sense that Lewis cannot get on top of Charles yet.