Max Verstappen blasted Red Bull's 2026 car after qualifying eighth for the China sprint, calling it undriveable and saying he had never experienced anything this bad. The article ties his poor pace to both Red Bull's struggles with its new engine and his broader unhappiness with Formula 1's new hybrid regulations.

Lewis Hamilton praised Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli after the Italian became Formula 1's youngest-ever polesitter in Shanghai. Hamilton said Antonelli deserved the record and encouraged him to keep following the approach that has driven his rapid rise.