Overview
- Alisha Palmowski topped practice and secured her first career pole in qualifying for the Shanghai season opener.
- Ferrari-backed Alba Hurup Larsen was the nearest challenger in qualifying, with Emma Felbermayr among the lead starters for Sunday’s race.
- With the top eight from qualifying reversed for Race 1, Nina Gademan and debutant Natalia Granada are set to start from the front row on Saturday.
- The 2026 grid features six teams and 18 drivers due to the series’ two-season cap, which rules out 2025’s top three finishers Doriane Pin, Maya Weug and Chloe Chambers.
- Fans can watch live on F1 TV and F1 Academy’s YouTube globally, with Sky Sports F1 carrying coverage in the UK and Apple broadcasting in the United States.