Best of the rest: Lando Norris leads McLaren charge as Mercedes remains out of reach in China. Lando Norris secured third in the Shanghai Sprint Qualifying.

Lando Norris, the reigning world champion in his McLaren, will start from the second row in tomorrow’s Sprint race.

Second row, best of the rest

In Shanghai Sprint Qualifying, it was Lando Norris who stood out as the ‘best of the rest’. The reigning world champion put his McLaren in third place in SQ3, only behind the two Mercedes of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, who are currently untouchable for the rest of the grid. However, Norris won the battle against his teammate and the two Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton (who will start alongside him from fourth in the Sprint) and Charles Leclerc.

Lando Norris reflects on his performance

Yes, I’m happy with the result, Norris commented to the official F1 channel. I didn’t really notice where I lost or gained time, but I think third place was the maximum I could get for now. I’m happy to have finished ahead of the Ferraris today, added the #1 Papaya driver, because they seemed to be running well all day, so I’m satisfied with the position I secured for tomorrow. Things definitely went better this weekend because the track is a bit easier for our Power Unit, so everyone is more aligned. We’re still a bit behind the Mercedes, but it was a good lap that put us in a strong position.

Lando Norris’s performance in Shanghai therefore provides a much-needed boost for McLaren as they navigate the complexities of the 2026 technical regulations. While the Mercedes W17 continues to demonstrate a clear performance ceiling that rivals cannot yet penetrate, the ability of the MCL40 to leapfrog Ferrari in a knockout qualifying format suggests that the team has found a superior energy deployment map for the Shanghai straights. For Lando Norris, beating Lewis Hamilton and a frustrated Charles Leclerc is a psychological victory that sets the stage for a defensive masterclass in the Sprint Race. If McLaren can maintain their tyre life across the 19 laps of the Sprint, they may be able to secure a podium finish and solidify their status as the primary challengers to the Silver Arrows’ early-season dominance.