The Victory Lane Racing Formula One Series returned to action at the Shanghai International Circuit, and it was Stephen Miller delivering one of the biggest performances of the young season. Miller scored 124 race points to win the Chinese Grand Prix, earning the maximum 40 championship points and securing the fifth victory of his VLR F1 career. The win also gave Mercedes its first constructor victory of the 2026 season, while Miller made one of the biggest jumps in the standings, climbing 19 positions into seventh place after two races.
Behind Miller, Malachi Hammerle continued an outstanding start to the season by finishing second for Scarlet Speedworks, giving him podium finishes in both races so far in 2026. The strong run moved Hammerle into the championship lead with 70 points, nine ahead of Australian Grand Prix winner Cody Zeeb, who finished tenth in Shanghai. Tyler Kruep completed the podium with a strong third-place result for Corsa Velocè, while Britten Steinfels and Jamie Dyke rounded out the top five.
While Miller claimed the race win, Scarlet Speedworks continued its dominant start to the season in the team championship, winning the overall team score for the second consecutive race thanks to Hammerle’s second-place finish and a ninth-place run from Greg Miller. Scarlet Speedworks now leads the team standings with 117 points, ahead of Cadillac Thunderstrike (99) and Paris Motor Group (92) as the early championship picture begins to take shape.
Constructor Championship Battle
Through two races the engine supplier championship is extremely tight:
1️⃣ Honda — 70
2️⃣ Cadillac — 65
3️⃣ Ferrari — 64
4️⃣ Renault — 56
5️⃣ Mercedes — 54
6️⃣ Ford — 26
Honda holds the early lead thanks to Malachi Hammerle’s pair of runner-up finishes, while Cadillac and Ferrari remain within striking distance. Mercedes’ victory in China vaulted them back into the fight after a slow start in Melbourne.
Biggest Mover
Stephen Miller (+19) — Miller’s victory launched him from outside the top 25 in the standings all the way up to 7th place, the biggest jump of the season so far.
Biggest Drop
Kirk Hunter (-14) — After a strong fifth-place finish in Australia, Hunter suffered a difficult weekend in Shanghai, not even starting the race and slid to 19th in the standings.
🔥 Power Rankings (After Race 2)
1️⃣ Malachi Hammerle — Two races, two podiums, championship leader.
2️⃣ Cody Zeeb — Still firmly in the title fight after winning Melbourne.
3️⃣ Britten Steinfels — Quietly consistent with two strong finishes.
4️⃣ Stephen Miller — The hottest driver leaving Shanghai after his dominant win.
5️⃣ Jamie Dyke — Back-to-back top-10 runs keep him firmly in contention.
Next Up: Japanese Grand Prix The series heads next to the legendary Suzuka Circuit on March 29 for the Japanese Grand Prix, one of the most technical tracks on the calendar. The fast figure-eight layout rewards precision and consistency, and it produced a thrilling race last season won by Jamie Dyke. With Malachi Hammerle now leading the championship and multiple contenders closing in, Suzuka could become the first major turning point in the 2026 title fight.
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