The Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix returns to the calendar as one of those races that forces you to set your alarm very early. Between the sprint format, the clash of giants at the top of the grid, and the extra interest it always generates... Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz for the Spanish fansThe Shanghai race stands out as one of the major dates circled in red on the World Championship calendar.
If you want to have everything under control—schedules in Spain, how to watch it on TV, what changes with the sprint, circuit data and season context—here you'll find a complete guide, designed so you don't miss a minute of the action. Chinese F1 Grand Prix and its full weekend schedulewithout having to go crazy looking for the information in a thousand different places.
2026 Chinese F1 Grand Prix schedule in Spain
For Spanish fans, the biggest problem with the Chinese Grand Prix is ​​the time difference, as China is much further ahead than Spain. This means that many sessions are held... in the early hours of the morning in SpainTherefore, it's important to have clear schedules to decide whether to get up early, stay up late, or watch on demand.
The official weekend program in Spanish peninsular time It is as follows, with Canary Islands time always one hour less in all sessions:
| - | - | - |
|---|---|---|
| Friday March 13 | free practice 1 | 4:30 |
| Friday March 13 | Sprint Classification | 8:30 |
| Saturday March 14 | Sprint race | 4:00 |
| Saturday March 14 | Classification | 8:30 |
| Sunday March 15 | Career | 8:00 |
Where to watch the 2026 Chinese F1 Grand Prix in Spain
In Spain, access to Formula 1 is quite clear: DAZN owns the exclusive rights of broadcasting the World Championship, so the Chinese GP can only be seen through official channels via this platform or through operators that have agreements with it.
The most direct way is to hire DAZN F1 or plans that include the dedicated Formula 1 channelThrough the app or website you can watch all the sessions live, as well as full replays, previews, post-session analysis and additional content, which is especially useful when the sessions take place in the early hours of the morning.
Furthermore, thanks to commercial agreements, F1 can also be followed in Spain through various operators:
- Movistar Plus+: integrates the DAZN F1 channel into its television packages, so that subscribers can follow practice sessions, qualifying sessions and races as if it were just another channel on their channel lineup.
- OrangeIt offers DAZN content (including F1) through Orange TV, with different packages starting from approximately €10 per month for the motor module, depending on the current offer.
- Vodafone: allows you to subscribe to DAZN Motor within your combined fiber and mobile packages, integrating Formula 1 into the television offer.
- Other operators Companies like Yoigo, MásMóvil, Euskaltel, and Telecable also facilitate DAZN subscriptions through their own platforms, simplifying the process for existing customers.
It is important to keep in mind that F1 TV, the championship's official streaming service, is not legally available to residents of Spain.Therefore, if you want to watch the Chinese GP and the rest of the World Championship legally, the only viable option is to do so through DAZN, either on their app or through the operators that integrate their signal.
Prices and plans to watch F1 in 2026
DAZN offers several subscription plans designed for different types of fans. Specific prices may vary with temporary offers, but the general guidelines are as follows: the entire Formula 1 season
On one hand, there's the engine-focused plan, designed for those who only want four wheels and two wheels:
- Motor PlanIt includes Formula 1, MotoGP, NASCAR, DTM, Superbikes, and other competitions. There's an annual payment option in installments of around €19,99/month, with possible promotions to bring it down to around €14,99/month if contracted on specific datesThere is also usually a monthly option without a fixed term, which is more expensive, and an annual prepayment option with a reduced total price compared to the monthly option.
In addition, DAZN offers a broader plan with many more sports, designed for those who want a generalist service:
- Premium or full planIt adds various football, basketball, and American sports competitions to the entire experience. The reference price is around €31,99/month with annual installments, with occasional offers that reduce the price by a few euros during the first few months. Monthly payment options with no commitment and a single annual payment are also available.
Meanwhile, some official communications from the season also point to a standard plan DAZN Essentialwith a cost of around €19,99 per month or just over €200 per year, depending on whether you subscribe monthly or annually. Again, it's important to check the DAZN website for the most up-to-date terms and conditions, as Promotions and specific prices change fairly frequently.
In any case, whether you contract it directly or through Movistar or other operators, the idea is the same: To watch the Chinese GP and the rest of F1 in Spain you need a paid subscriptionwhether it's engine-specific or included in a broader package.
Championship standings before the Chinese GP
The Chinese GP comes right after the opening race at Albert Park, where Mercedes clearly showed dominanceThe German team dominated in Australia with an authoritative victory, while Ferrari confirmed itself as the main rival capable of challenging them, at least in terms of race pace and ability to put pressure on the start.
In Melbourne, Charles Leclerc made a brutal start which put George Russell under pressure, but as the laps went by, Mercedes' superiority prevailed, and an unfortunate strategy from Ferrari ultimately tipped the scales. Thus, the World Championship arrives in Shanghai with the feeling that the fight for victories will primarily revolve around these two teams, without losing sight of McLaren and Red Bull, who also have competitive equipment and drivers capable of making a difference.
The race in China will also be the first sprint-format race of the year, so There will be more points at stake and less margin for error.Any problems in Friday's qualifying session or Saturday's sprint race could seriously affect Sunday's race, something all the teams will have in mind from the very first minute of the weekend.
Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz: what to expect in China
The two biggest stars for Spanish fans arrive in Shanghai with very different feelings, but sharing the same goal: Leaving China with points and better feelings than in AustraliaBoth Aston Martin and Williams are still adjusting their new cars to the 2026 regulation changes, and the sprint format further complicates that process.
In the case of Fernando AlonsoThe start of the year wasn't exactly ideal. In Australia, he had to retire, and his Aston Martin barely managed to complete the race distance under normal conditions. The Spaniard completed around 15 laps in a double stint focused primarily on gathering data and useful information for the team, trying to better understand the car's behavior. AMR26 with Honda engineWith hardly any time to introduce significant improvements, the team arrives in China with a virtually identical car, so simply completing the entire weekend without incident would be a major step forward.
As for the Carlos SainzThe Madrid native at least managed to see the checkered flag at Albert Park, completing the scheduled 58 laps after partially resolving the reliability issues he experienced in the final free practice session (FP3). The main problem was a a defect in the front wing that left the car without downforce at the front, forcing him to run slower times than expected and finishing outside the points. In Shanghai, the Williams driver hopes to have a more balanced car to truly challenge for points, especially by taking advantage of the extra opportunities offered by the sprint format.
The Shanghai International Circuit: Facts and Features
The Chinese Grand Prix is ​​held in the Shanghai International CircuitIt's a very complete track that combines slow corners, high-speed sections, and an endless straight at the back, perfect for overtaking. It's one of those circuits where the driver must manage tires and energy well, while the team fine-tunes the balance between downforce and top speed.
The track features a total length of 5.451 meters It consists of 16 corners: 9 right-handers and 7 left-handers, a small detail that requires special attention to tire wear on one side of the car. The first few corners are an endless, very technical series of twists and turns, while the final section is dominated by a very long straight leading to the last chicane.
Statistically speaking, the most successful driver in Shanghai is Lewis Hamilton, with six wins (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019). The all-time qualifying lap record was set by Michael Schumacher in the circuit's debut on the calendar in 2004, with a 1 time: 32.238, a reference that remained for history in the original configuration of the track and the characteristics of those cars.
To complete the Chinese GP race, the drivers must give a total of 56 lapsThis translates to a total distance covered of 305,066 kilometers. With the new regulations in 2026, the behavior of the single-seaters on this circuit promises to be particularly interesting, as the reduced downforce and the greater relative weight of the electric motor could significantly alter braking points and traditional overtaking maneuvers.