China
NEED TO KNOW
GET UP TO SPEED WITH THESE FACTS AND STATS
FIRST GRAND PRIX:
2004
TRACK LENGTH:
5.451 KM
LAP RECORD:
1:32.238
Michael Schumacher (2004)
MOST WINS:
6
LEWIS HAMILTON
MOST POLE POSITIONS:
6
LEWIS HAMILTON
PIT STOP
TIME LOSS:
(including 2.5s stationary)
POLE RUN TO TURN 1
BRAKING POINT:
OVERTAKES COMPLETED
IN 2024:
SAFETY CAR
PROBABILITY:
VSC
PROBABILITY:
TRIVIA
The circuit is designed to look like the Chinese symbol for ‘shang’, meaning upwards.
THE DRIVER'S VERDICT
Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault F1 driver
The first corner is unique with a wickedly fast approach before you scrub off the speed through an almost 360-degree turn which feels never-ending from the cockpit. That brings you into a slow left-hander where the exit is crucial for traction to the end of a short Sector 1.
Sector 2 is a nicer section of fast sweeping bends, again gradually scrubbing speed through the high-speed sequence of Turns 7, 8 and 9.
Sector 3 again features an almost endless right-hand turn, building speed this time onto the back straight, another reason this circuit is so hard on the left-front tyre.
The back straight is the best overtaking opportunity with DRS into a big braking zone for a really tight right-hander, leaving just a quick and satisfying left-hander to round out the lap.
2024 WINNER
Max Verstappen (RED BULL)
2019 WINNER
LEWIS HAMILTON (MERCEDES)
2018 WINNER
DANIEL RICCIARDO (RED BULL)
2017 WINNER
LEWIS HAMILTON (MERCEDES)
2016 WINNER
NICO ROSBERG (MERCEDES)
2024 POLE POSITION
Max Verstappen (RED BULL)
2019 POLE POSITION
VALTTERI BOTTAS (MERCEDES)
2018 POLE POSITION
SEBASTIAN VETTEL (FERRARI)
2017 POLE POSITION
LEWIS HAMILTON (MERCEDES)
2016 POLE POSITION
NICO ROSBERG (MERCEDES)
CURRENT FORM
What can be expected going into the Grand Prix weekend?
McLaren are seen by many as the favourites entering 2025, the Woking-based outfit having ended the last campaign with their first Teams’ Championship in 26 years. Norris will be keen to continue this form in Shanghai – while Piastri will hope to bounce back after sliding onto the grass when the rain fell in Melbourne, dropping down the order from P2 before eventually salvaging P9.
Verstappen, meanwhile, led Red Bull’s charge to second place in Australia, a result that he hailed as a “decent starting point” for the outfit as he looks to defend his Drivers’ title.
Tied at the top of the Teams’ standings with McLaren are Mercedes, the Silver Arrows having claimed P3 and P4 with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli respectively. It was a positive start for the squad, leading Russell to declare that they “seemed a step ahead of Ferrari.”
Indeed, it was perhaps not the first weekend as a Scuderia driver that Lewis Hamilton had hoped for, with the seven-time World Champion ending the day down in P10 while team mate Charles Leclerc took P8. Ferrari are now “on the back foot”, according to Leclerc, after their pace struggles.
Elsewhere, Williams caught the eye with a strong weekend in Australia, Racing Bulls were unable to deliver on the promise they had displayed earlier on and Haas were faced with the “unwelcome surprise” of being at the back of the field – while several of the rookies will have a point to prove in China after struggling in the tricky weather conditions last weekend.
ICONIC MOMENT
Michael Schumacher's final F1 win
There are plenty of moments to choose from looking back over the history of the Chinese Grand Prix, which joined the F1 calendar back in 2004. One of the most iconic is perhaps when Michael Schumacher won his final F1 Grand Prix.
Ferrari driver Schumacher brilliantly came out on top in a battle against Renault title rival Fernando Alonso during a wet-dry 2006 encounter, having posted a no-score and DNF on his previous two visits to Shanghai, to draw level with the Spaniard in the standings.
While it was ultimately not to be an eighth world title for the legendary German racer, with Alonso pipping him to the crown, it marked the 91st and last victory of an incredible career in the top echelon.
