SPRINT START: Watch the opening lap of the China Sprint as Hamilton surges to the front with Russell

It was a stunning start to the first Sprint of 2026 in China for Lewis Hamilton, the Ferrari man surging forwards off the line to snatch the lead from polesitter George Russell.

While Russell got away well – in comparison to a poor start for the other Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli – Hamilton was particularly quick when the lights went out, the seven-time World Champion moving up to first from fourth on the grid.

Russell later retook P1 from his former team mate, before Hamilton again swept ahead into the lead. Further back, Antonelli made contact with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar, while Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad suffered a spin in his debut Sprint.

Click go on the video player above to watch the start of the Sprint from Shanghai.