The Japan Times - Races off, Mercedes dominance, McLaren woe: China GP talking points

Teammate George Russell took the chequered flag in the sprint but there were big problems for Red Bull's Max Verstappen while both McLarens, including world champion Lando Norris, failed to even start the race.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points from the second race weekend of the 2026 Formula One calendar at the Shanghai International Circuit:

- Bahrain, Saudi headache -

The paddock in China woke up on Sunday to confirmation of the worst-kept secret in Formula One: next month's grands prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia had been cancelled because of the war in the Middle East.

The decision leaves teams and drivers with an almost five-week gap between the Japanese Grand Prix on March 29 and the start of the Miami race weekend on May 1.

The change in schedule will affect development plans of teams already wrestling with sweeping regulation changes and new car designs.

Many were planning to bring upgrades to the Middle East races but they will now lose six practice sessions and two races in which to gather valuable data and on-track running.

On the plus side, it will give more time behind the scenes and in the simulators to get their heads around F1's brave new world.

- Mercedes dominate -

Mercedes took a second consecutive one-two in China, with Antonelli leading home Russell.

Russell leads Antonelli by four points in the drivers' championship and Mercedes have 98 in the constructors' table, 31 clear of Ferrari, who seem to be their only challengers at present.

After front-row lockouts in qualifying for both races this season, it has observers predicting confidently that a Mercedes driver will be crowned world champion in 2026.

It appears just a question of whether it will be Russell or Antonelli.

Both would be champions for the first time.

- McLaren, Red Bull in mire -

Constructors world champions McLaren were hurting badly after neither of their drivers even made the formation lap in Shanghai.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri has now failed to start either of this season's two grands prix, though he did pick up three points for sixth place in Saturday's sprint.

A few garages along the pit lane, Verstappen and Red Bull had very little to smile about either as the four-time world champion could only qualify eighth, dropped down the field after a terrible start and then retired on lap 46 with a cooling problem.

The once-dominant Red Bulls have suffered more than most from Formula One's sweeping new regulations and for the first time the team failed to score a point in a sprint race.

"Nothing works. So it's just not nice," fumed Verstappen. "Every lap is honestly survival for me. I'm not enjoying it at all."

After two weekends McLaren are already a massive 80 points behind Mercedes in the constructors' championship and Red Bull are a further six points back.

K.Yamaguchi--JT