Formula 1 arrived in Shanghai with plenty to talk about ahead of the Chinese GP, and the paddock’s media day delivered no shortage of commentary.

From driver interviews to behind-the-scenes snapshots, our latest F1i gallery captures as usual the atmosphere, personalities and anticipation building around the venue.

Circuit atmosphere - Chinese Grand Prix logo. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Cadillac Formula 1 Team. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Liam Lawson (NZL) Racing Bulls Formula One Team. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Sergio Perez (MEX) Cadillac Formula 1 Team. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Cadillac Formula 1 Team. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Carlos Sainz (ESP) Williams F1 Team. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Imagesmore
Fernando Alonso (ESP) Aston Martin F1 Team. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Imagesmore
Stefano Domenicali (ITA) Formula One President and CEO (Right). 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Imagesmore
Circuit atmosphere - Heineken branding trackside. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
(L to R): Stuart Barlow (GBR) Alpine F1 Team Performance Engineer with Franco Colapinto (ARG) Alpine F1 Team. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Imagesmore
(L to R): Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Cadillac Formula 1 Team with team mate Sergio Perez (MEX) Cadillac Formula 1 Team. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Imagesmore
Haas F1 Team VF-26 being prepared in the pit garage. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Scuderia Ferrari SF-26 being prepared in the pit garage. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
McLaren F1 Team MCL40 being prepared in the pit garage. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
McLaren F1 Team MCL40 being prepared in the pit garage. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Cadillac Formula 1 Team MAC-26 nosecones. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Imagesmore
Isack Hadjar (FRA) Red Bull Racing. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Imagesmore
Arvid Lindblad (GBR) Racing Bulls Formula One Team. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Imagesmore
(L to R): Stefano Domenicali (ITA) Formula One President and CEO with Paul Monaghan (GBR) Red Bull Racing Chief Engineer. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Imagesmore
Esteban Ocon (FRA) Haas F1 Team in the FIA Press Conference. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Imagesmore
Max Verstappen (NLD) Red Bull Racing in the FIA Press Conference. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Imagesmore
Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA) Audi F1 Team in the FIA Press Conference. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Imagesmore
Isack Hadjar (FRA) Red Bull Racing. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Circuit atmosphere - start / finish straight. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Pirelli tryes. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Scuderia Ferrari. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Charles Leclerc (MON) Scuderia Ferrari. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Imagesmore
Scuderia Ferrari SF-26 - 'upside-down' rear wing. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Batchelor / XPB Imagesmore
Arvid Lindblad (GBR) Racing Bulls Formula One Team VCARB 03. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Patching / XPB Imagesmore
Oliver Bearman (GBR) Haas F1 Team. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Oliver Bearman (GBR) Haas F1 Team. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Imagesmore
Mercedes AMG F1 Formula One Team practices a pit stop. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Patching / XPB Imagesmore
Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Cadillac Formula 1 Team rides the circuit. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Imagesmore
Zhou Guanyu (CHN) Cadillac Formula 1 Team Reserve Driver. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Moy / XPB Imagesmore
Carlos Sainz (ESP) Williams F1 Team rides the circuit. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Bearne / XPB Imagesmore
Lando Norris (GBR) McLaren F1 Team. 12.03.2026. Formula 1 World Championship, Rd 2, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai, China, Preparation Day. - www.xpbimages.com, EMail: requests@xpbimages.com © Copyright: Denny / XPB Imagesmore

 

Michael Delaney

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