Formula 1: Chinese Grand Prix Track Guide

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Formula One is back for its second weekend in a row as drivers and team head to the Chinese city of Shanghai.

The Chinese Grand Prix brings with it the first Sprint weekend of the season, along with the first of seven F1 Academy race weekends. During a Sprint weekend, the grid will only get one practice session to try to get up to speed before pushing their cars to the limit in Sprint Qualifying on Friday. Saturday, we will see the Sprint race followed by race qualifying, with the race on Sunday.

The Chinese Grand Prix brings with it different challenges. The most famous section of the circuit is the first corner - ranked among the most exciting on the calendar - a massive 270-degree turn that decreases in radius. Cars can go side-by-side heading into it but then need to settle into a position when it tightens.

Following last weekend's Melbourne Grand Prix, Hadjar, Sainz, Doohan, Alonso, Ferrari, Lawson, Piastri, and Bortoleto will all be looking to improve their performances from last weekend, with Norris, Russell, and Antonelli looking to continue their forward momentum into the second race of the season.

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Chinese Grand Prix Past Records

• 2024 – Polesitter Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Race Winner Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
  
• 2019 – Polesitter Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), Race Winner Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
  
• 2018 – Polesitter Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), Race Winner Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
  
• 2017 – Polesitter Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Race Winner Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
  
• 2016 – Polesitter Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Race Winner Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)

Track Stats

• First Grand Prix - 2004
• Number of Laps - 56
• Track Length - 5.451 km
• Lap Record - 1:32.238s, Michael Schumacher, 2004
• Most Pole Positions - Lewis Hamilton (6)
• Most Wins - Lewis Hamilton (6)
• Trivia - This is a unique track, however, the shape of the layout based on the Chinese symbol ‘Shang’, meaning ‘upward’ or ‘ascend’, and its 16 turns provide a distinctive challenge as a result.
• Pole run to Turn 1 braking point - 315 metres
• Overtakes completed in 2024 - 128
• Safety Car probability - 75%
• Virtual Safety Car probability - 50%
• Pit stop time loss - 22.9 seconds (including 2.5s stationary)

F1 Academy

Race Weekend Timings (UK)

Friday March 21

• 1:00am: F1 Academy Free Practice Session
• 3:30am: Formula 1 Free Practice One
• 6:00am: F1 Academy Qualifying
• 7:30am: Formula 1 Sprint Qualifying

Saturday March 22

• 3:00am: Formula 1 Spring Race
• 5:45am: F1 Academy Race One
• 7:00am: Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying

Sunday March 23

• 2:40am: F1 Academy Race Two
• 7:00am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX

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Written by Anny Wooldridge