Formula 1 heads to Shanghai for Round 2 of 2026. Read our Chinese Grand Prix betting picks, including Kimi Antonelli markets and an Isack Hadjar top-six play.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix 2026 odds and best bets
Formula 1 heads to Shanghai this week for Round 2 of the 2026 World Championship, with the Chinese Grand Prix arriving straight after a wild season opener in Melbourne.
The Australian Grand Prix had just about everything — changing conditions, pressure moments, and a major early statement from Mercedes, who opened the campaign with a commanding one-two finish. Ferrari showed enough raw pace to suggest they will be a factor again in China, but their strategic execution still looks shaky after another race where they failed to make the most of their speed.
With the first sprint weekend of the season now on deck, Shanghai should give us a much clearer read on the pecking order. The long back straight and heavy braking zones reward confidence under brakes and strong traction, while the extra competitive session gives in-form drivers more chances to strike early.
2026 Chinese Grand Prix odds
Mercedes heads to China as the team to beat after locking out the top two spots in Australia, with George Russell narrowly shading teammate Kimi Antonelli in the early market. Ferrari remains firmly in the mix on outright pace, while Max Verstappen and the McLaren pair sit at longer odds than usual heading into the first sprint weekend of the season.
- George Russell (Mercedes) – -138.89
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +400
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +550
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +800
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +800
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – +2800
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +2800
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) – +8000
- Arvid Lindblad (VCARB) – +30000
- Liam Lawson (VCARB) – +30000
More odds available at BetOnline
Chinese Grand Prix 2025 betting predictions
Kimi Antonelli sprint pole
Antonelli could not have opened his Formula 1 season in much better fashion, and the sprint format in Shanghai gives him another chance to stamp his authority on the weekend early. Mercedes looked sharp straight away in Melbourne, and if that same one-lap speed turns up again, Antonelli has every chance to be right at the pointy end. He already looks comfortable handling the pressure, and this circuit should suit a driver prepared to attack the braking zones.
Kimi Antonelli sprint pole
Kimi Antonelli race win
There is always a degree of caution needed that early in the season, but the value still looks to sit with Antonelli. Mercedes genuinely has the quickest package right now. Russell may be the market leader, but Antonelli is clearly not far away on pace, and China offers another layout where confidence and rhythm can carry a driver a long way. If he starts near the front and stays out of trouble through the opening phase, he looks capable of turning his fast start into a breakthrough victory.
Kimi Antonelli race win
Isack Hadjar top-six finish
If he can qualify strongly again and get a clean run through the weekend, Hadjar has the speed to feature well inside the top six. Sprint formats often throw extra pressure and unpredictability into the mix, and that can work in favour of aggressive drivers who are already comfortable attacking from the outset.
Isack Hadjar top-six finish
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