2026 Chinese Grand Prix: Race preview, odds & favourites

A dramatic opening race has set the tone for the F1 season, so read on for Ladbrokes' Chinese Grand Prix race preview, with a look at the odds & favourites.

George Russell took the chequered flag in Melbourne to get his and Mercedes' season off to the perfect start, but with the likes of Max Verstappen and Lando Norris arriving in Shanghai with real points to prove, we're set for an epic battle at the front of the pack.

The Shanghai International Circuit also plays host to the first Sprint race of the season, so a weekend of unmissable drama awaits, with extra Drivers' Championship points up for grabs.

Below, you'll find our Chinese GP race preview, with key details, expert predictions, and the latest live odds.

• 13 March - Practice 1 (03:30 GMT)

• 13 March - Sprint Qualifying (07:30 GMT)

• 14 March - Sprint Race (03:00 GMT)

• 14 March - Qualifying (07:00 GMT)

• 15 March - Race (07:00 GMT)

Our Formula One season preview really hyped up the grid's British contingent, and they proved us right in Melbourne, with all four drivers finishing inside the top seven at the Australian Grand Prix. Now, the drivers travel to China, and it's last week's winner George Russell who once again heads up the betting as this week's favourite.

The 28-year-old won from the front of the grid to cap off the perfect weekend for Mercedes, and is odds-on to make it back-to-back Grand Prix victories at the Chinese GP this weekend, ahead of teammate Kimi Antonelli - who impressed to take second in Melbourne.

Charles Leclerc rounds off the bookies' top three, with Max Verstappen only fourth-favourite after a disappointing start to the campaign where he was forced to settle for sixth. Lewis Hamilton completes the top five, with the seven-time world champion agonisingly close to a first Ferrari podium last week, before a jump in the odds takes us to the reigning world champ, Lando Norris.

Oscar Piastri is the only other driver with odds shorter than 33/1, despite his extraordinary crash on the reconnaissance lap at his home race, with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar leading the rest of the pack after his impressive qualifying lap last week.

The Australian Grand Prix threw out a few surprises last week, but once again, we're going to stay reasonably true to the odds in our Chinese Grand Prix predictions. With Mercedes and Ferrari looking so strong in Melbourne, they're surely going to be butting heads at the top of the field again, but McLaren's 1-2 here last year suggests they're well in the conversation - so it's anyone's race at the Shanghai International Circuit.

• 1st - George Russell (Mercedes)

• 2nd - Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)

• 3rd - Max Verstappen (Red Bull)

• 4th - Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)

• 5th - Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)

• 6th - Lando Norris (McLaren)

• 7th - Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)

• 8th - Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

• 9th - Ollie Bearman (Haas)

• 10th - Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

• 11th - Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)

• 12th - Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

• 13th - Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)

• 14th - Alex Albon (Williams)

• 15th - Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)

• 16th - Esteban Ocon (Haas)

• 17th - Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

• 18th - Carlos Sainz (Williams)

• 19th - Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

• 20th - Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

• 21st - Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

• 22nd - Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

View the latest Formula One odds.

All odds and markets correct as of date of publication.