Race Facts – Chinese Grand Prix

Information, background and historical past of the System 1 Chinese language Grand Prix, which has been held on the Shanghai Worldwide Circuit since 2004.

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Constructed at a price of virtually $500 million, the Shanghai Worldwide Circuit is situated on the outskirts of Shanghai, one of many largest cities on this planet with a inhabitants of over 24 million. The circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke and was constructed on reclaimed marshland. The primary race was held in 2004 and received by Rubens Barrichello in a Ferrari.

With a capability of 200,000 spectators, the Shanghai circuit is among the largest on the present System 1 calendar. However after drawing in extra of this quantity for the inaugural race weekend in 2004, attendances have by no means reached capability since and hovered round roughly 140,000 for the entire weekend within the 2010s.

The Chinese language Grand Prix was held for 16 consecutive seasons from 2004 to 2019, with Shanghai Worldwide Circuit staging the historic a thousandth System 1 race in 2019. The milestone race would show to be System 1’s final go to to China for 5 years.

The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic resulted within the Chinese language Grand Prix being the primary F1 race to be cancelled in February 2020. Over the subsequent 4 seasons, the occasion would seem on the provisional calendar every year however would later be cancelled, primarily because of strict laws to manage the unfold of COVID-19 in China. Regardless of the setbacks, a brand new contract was signed in November 2021 that assured the race’s future till at the very least 2025.

System 1 lastly returned to China in 2024, with the weekend being the primary of the season to utilise the Dash format. The occasion was notable for Zhou Guanyu’s participation. The Sauber driver grew to become the primary Chinese language driver to partake of their dwelling Grand Prix in System 1. His presence on the grid helped to spice up attendance figures on the monitor, with an estimated 60,000 followers attending on race day and an alleged whole of 175,000 over the weekend. The 2024 Chinese language Grand Prix was formally a sell-out occasion, although tickets weren’t bought for a number of the circuit’s grandstands.

Regardless of Zhou vacating his seat on the grid for 2025, System 1 introduced in December 2024 that the Chinese language Grand Prix will stay on the calendar till at the very least 2030. Attendance grew on the 2025 occasion, with the general attendance determine rising to 220,000.

Chinese language Grand Prix: Did You Know?

Michael Schumacher recorded his final race victory on the Shanghai circuit in 2006. The Chinese language Grand Prix was additionally the venue for the primary victory of the Purple Bull group (2009) and Nico Rosberg (2012).

After their first victory in 2009, the British nationwide anthem was incorrectly performed on the rostrum for Purple Bull. Although the group’s base is in Britain, the group itself is registered with the Austrian nationwide racing authority, which means the Austrian nationwide anthem ought to have been performed.

The circuit structure relies on the Chinese language ‘Shang’ (上) character , which implies ‘to ascend’ and likewise offers Shanghai its title.

The a thousandth World Championship Grand Prix was staged on the Shanghai Worldwide Circuit in 2019.

The circuit, comprised of a sequence of lengthy straights plus two 270 diploma corners, is notoriously troublesome on tires and brakes.

Lewis Hamilton is by far essentially the most profitable driver in Shanghai with over double the variety of wins of every other competitor on the monitor. He’s taken six victories in China (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019).

Till 2024, Hamilton was additionally the one driver to have taken the quickest lap of the race right here greater than as soon as, having achieved so 4 occasions (2008, 2010, 2015, 2017). Fernando Alonso recorded a second quickest lap on the monitor within the 2024 Chinese language Grand Prix.

Mark Webber’s grid place of 18th in 2011 is the furthest again on the grid a podium end has come from on the Shanghai circuit. He gained 15 locations within the race to face on the ultimate step of the podium.

In each 2017 and 2018, Mercedes led the Constructors’ Championship by a single level after the Chinese language Grand Prix. In 2006, Renault additionally led the best way by only one level after the Shanghai race.

Lewis Hamilton’s unlucky DNF right here in 2007 is the one time the polesitter on the Chinese language Grand Prix has failed to complete the race.

Three drivers had been disqualified from the 2025 Chinese language Grand Prix for technical infringements. It was the primary race for the reason that 2004 Canadian Grand Prix during which as many as three drivers had been disqualified from the consequence.

Memorable Moments on the Chinese language Grand Prix

2006: Schumacher’s Ultimate F1 Victory

Michael Schumacher’s first two visits to the Chinese language Grand Prix had been removed from profitable. In 2004 he completed a uncommon lap down on the winner in twelfth place, whereas a crash with Christijan Albers on the best way to the grid in 2005 ensured a troublesome afternoon ranging from the pit-lane, with him ultimately spinning out of the Grand Prix. The Ferrari ace put that proper in 2006 although, as he claimed his 91st and remaining System 1 victory. The race additionally noticed Jenson Button pulling off a masterclass in overtaking. Watch the highlights.

2007: Hamilton’s Pit-Lane Calamity

Because the penultimate spherical of the 2007 season, Lewis Hamilton headed into the Chinese language Grand Prix because the snug championship chief with a chance to safe the title. He appeared unstoppable as he took pole place for the possibly title-deciding race. Along with his tires struggling excessive put on, McLaren stored Hamilton out for additional laps. The choice proved to be pricey, because the Brit slid off the monitor on the pit-entry, getting beached within the gravel. Because of this, Kimi Raikkonen took an important win, whereas Hamilton nonetheless led the championship, however by solely 4 factors from his team-mate Fernando Alonso. Watch the highlights.

2009: Purple Bull’s First Win

Sebastian Vettel claimed Purple Bull’s first victory on the 2009 Chinese language Grand Prix. As a result of climate situations, the race had began behind the Security Automobile, with Vettel on pole. There have been loads of incidents because of the rain, with each Jarno Trulli and Adrian Sutil wrecking their vehicles after being caught out by the difficult situations. Not even a slight coming along with Sebastien Buemi may cease Vettel taking a well-known victory on solely his third look with the Purple Bull group. Watch the highlights.

2010: Buemi Loses His Wheels

Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi had a scary second in Friday observe on the 2010 Chinese language Grand Prix. Beneath braking on the finish of the circuit’s 1.17km lengthy straight, a suspension failure noticed the entrance wheels fly off the Swiss driver’s automotive as he braked for the hairpin. Fortunately, the automotive slowed sufficiently sufficient to keep away from an enormous accident, although the detachment of the tires seemed dramatic. Watch the highlights.

2018: Ricciardo Wins From Sixth

After practically lacking qualifying because of an engine subject, Daniel Ricciardo took an surprising victory within the 2018 race at Shanghai. Sebastian Vettel took pole and led for the early levels, but it surely was Valtteri Bottas who emerged in entrance after the primary spherical of pit-stops. A tangle between the Toro Rosso drivers noticed the Security Automobile known as out, with good timing for the Purple Bull drivers, who pitted. As his team-mate clattered into Vettel’s Ferrari, Ricciardo diced his approach by way of the sector, pulling off a daring transfer on Bottas to take the lead, the place he remained for the remainder of the race. Ricciardo was the primary driver to win the Chinese language Grand Prix from way back to sixth on the grid since Michael Schumacher in 2006. Watch the highlights.