F1 cancels Bahrain & Saudi Arabia Grands Prix

Formula 1 has confirmed the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, reducing the 2026 season to 22 races. The sport had been due in Bahrain for the season’s fourth round from April 10-12 before racing in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah a week later from April 17-19, but both countries are among the Gulf states to have been struck by attacks from Iran in retaliation to US-Israeli air strikes.

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Antonelli becomes youngest ever pole setter ahead of Chinese Grand Prix

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli became the youngest driver to set pole position in Formula 1 history by leading team-mate George Russell at the Chinese Grand Prix. Russell ended up 0.222 seconds adrift of the Italian after a race against time to solve a gearbox problem with his car that threatened to leave him 10th on the grid. Mercedes managed to repair Russell’s car just in time to get him out for a final lap and he managed to sneak ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

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Russell fends off Ferrari duo to win Sprint race in China

Mercedes’ George Russell won the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix after a frantic scrap in the early laps with Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari. Russell and Hamilton swapped places five times in the first five laps before the winner of the first race of the season eased away to a comfortable victory. Hamilton lost out to team-mate Charles Leclerc three laps after Russell finally passed him for the lead as the Ferraris took second and third.

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Russell eases to pole ahead of Shanghai Sprint

George Russell led team-mate Kimi Antonelli as Mercedes dominated qualifying for the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix. Russell was 0.289 seconds clear of the Italian and a massive 0.621secs ahead of the first non-Mercedes, world champion Lando Norris in the McLaren. Lewis Hamilton was fourth for Ferrari, just 0.02secs slower than Norris, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took fifth ahead of the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

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Dr Helmut Marko to leave role as Red Bull advisor

Red Bull motorsport adviser Dr Helmut Marko will leave the team after 20 years at the end of 2025. The 82-year-old has been an integral part of Red Bull’s success since the team formed in 2005, as they won six constructors’ championships and eight drivers’ titles. Marko, who was the right-hand man of the late Red Bull co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz, has overseen the development of 20 drivers, most notably world champions Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, with whom the Austrian has a close relationship.

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