Blog: The Chinese Grand Prix is Back
The Chinese Grand Prix has been a staple in the Formula 1 calendar for years, and its return to the season always brings excitement. With a rich history of thrilling races at the Shanghai International Circuit, the Grand Prix of China is set to deliver yet another unforgettable weekend of high-speed action. Here’s what you need to know after this year’s race!
Shanghai International Circuit
The Chinese Grand Prix, first held in 2004, has returned to the Formula 1 calendar in 2024 after a hiatus, rekindling excitement at the iconic Shanghai International Circuit. Spanning 5.451 km with 56 laps making up a total race distance of 305.066 km, this state-of-the-art track is renowned for its challenging layout and cultural symbolism.
Built on marshland in Shanghai’s Jiading District at a cost of $450 million, the circuit’s unique design mimics the Chinese character "shang," symbolizing progress. Known for its dynamic corners, including the tight opening sequence and high-speed Turns 7 and 8, as well as a 1.2 km back straight, the track promises exhilarating action. With a rich history and a thrilling return, the Chinese Grand Prix is set to captivate motorsport fans once more.
Sprint weekend
Free Practice -> Sprint Qualifying -> Sprint Race -> Qualifying -> Qatar Grand Prix
The Chinese gp weekend is not a regular weekend; it’s a Sprint Weekend, which brings a different format than usual. This means there will only be one Free Practice session (FP1), which will take place on Friday. Teams and drivers will have just one hour to assess how their car performs on the track and fine-tune their setups. After FP1, the Sprint Qualifying session will take place. This session is shorter than a regular qualifying and has different tire rules. For example, in Q1, drivers are required to use specific tire compounds, which adds a layer of strategy. (For further clarification, Sprint Qualifying is typically a single, 30-minute session that determines the grid for the Sprint Race.
On Saturday, the Sprint Race will take place. The number of laps in a Sprint Race is much fewer than the original Grand Prix. This is typically around 100 km (approximately 30 minutes of racing), so there is usually no need for a pit stop. After the Sprint Race, the drivers will take part in another Qualifying session, this time for the Grand Prix that will take place on Sunday. This qualifying session follows the usual format, with drivers competing for the grid positions for the main event of the weekend.
his compressed format adds excitement and strategy, giving teams and drivers multiple chances to perform while reducing the usual downtime between sessions.
Here are the points that can be scored during a Sprint Race:
- 1st: 8 points
- 2nd: 7 points
- 3rd: 6 points
- 4th: 5 points
- 5th: 4 points
- 6th: 3 points
- 7th: 2 points
- 8th: 1 point
What time does the Chinese Grand Prix start in my time zone?
After an early Grand Prix in Australia, things don’t get much easier for European Formula 1 fans. China is yet another early race. Want to know what time the sessions in China start in your time zone? Check out the Chinese Grand Prix weekend schedule below!
Free Practice 1
- Las Vegas PST: 7:30 PM Saturday
- London GMT: 3:30 AM
- Berlin CET: 4:30 AM
- Moscow MSK: 6:30 AM
- Dubai GST: 7:30 AM
- Melbourne AEDT: 2:30 PM
- Tokyo JST: 12:30 PM
- Singapore SGT: 11:30 AM
- New York EST: 10:30 PM Saturday
- China CST: 11:30 AM
- India IST: 11:00 PM
Sprint Qualifying
- Las Vegas PST: 11:30 PM Saturday
- London GMT: 7:30 AM
- Berlin CET: 8:30 AM
- Moscow MSK: 10:30 AM
- Dubai GST: 11:30 AM
- Melbourne AEDT: 6:30 PM
- Tokyo JST: 4:30 PM
- Singapore SGT: 3:30 PM
- New York EST: 2:30 AM
- China CST: 3:30 PM
- India IST: 1:00 PM
Sprint Race
- Las Vegas PST: 7:00 PM Saturday
- London GMT: 3:00 AM
- Berlin CET: 4:00 AM
- Moscow MSK: 6:00 AM
- Dubai GST: 7:00 AM
- Melbourne AEDT: 2:00 PM
- Tokyo JST: 12:00 PM
- Singapore SGT: 11:00 AM
- New York EST: 10:00 PM Saturday
- China CST: 11:00 AM
- India IST: 8:30 AM
Qualifying
- Las Vegas PST: 11:00 PM Saturday
- London GMT: 7:00 AM
- Berlin CET: 8:00 AM
- Moscow MSK: 10:00 AM
- Dubai GST: 11:00 AM
- Melbourne AEDT: 6:00 PM
- Tokyo JST: 4:00 PM
- Singapore SGT: 3:00 PM
- New York EST: 2:00 AM
- China CST: 3:00 PM
- India IST: 1:30 PM
Chinese Grand Prix
- Las Vegas PST: 11:00 PM Saturday
- London GMT: 7:00 AM
- Berlin CET: 8:00 AM
- Moscow MSK: 10:00 AM
- Dubai GST: 11:00 AM
- Melbourne AEDT: 6:00 PM
- Tokyo JST: 4:00 PM
- Singapore SGT: 3:00 PM
- New York EST: 2:00 AM
- China CST: 3:00 PM
- India IST: 1:30 PM
Chinese Grand Prix 2025
Friday was an important day for the drivers because it was time for the first and only practice session of the weekend, and this was only the second weekend of the season, with many drivers still getting used to the car. They only had an hour for this, after which it was straight into the sprint qualifying. It seemed that the McLarens, especially Lando Norris, were going to take pole, but after making a small mistake, Lewis Hamilton managed to set a faster lap in his Ferrari. The seven-time world champion was the fastest in red for the first time.
Saturday was the busiest day of all. Early in the morning, it was time for the sprint race, which consisted of 19 laps. Lewis Hamilton started from pole with his old rival Max Verstappen behind him. However, Hamilton got away well and managed to win the sprint race, marking his very first victory with Ferrari. Oscar Piastri finished second, and Verstappen completed the podium. After the sprint, it was time to qualify for Sunday's race. Once again, the McLarens were fast. This time, Oscar Piastri took pole position, and George Russell split the two McLarens, with Oscar ahead of him and Lando behind.
"And on Sunday, these three men started at the front of the grid. It promised to be an exciting race with many overtaking opportunities. But it quickly became clear that strategy would also be very important for the result. George Russell quickly realized that it could very well be a one-stop strategy, but McLaren was also on top of their game when it came to strategy. Both papaya drivers stayed at the front, with Oscar leading the race. In the end, many drivers managed a one-stop strategy, and the Australian won the race! Teammate Lando Norris finished P2 after struggling with brake issues towards the end of the race. George Russell also managed to finish on the podium.
Just when the weekend seemed to be over, things took an unexpected turn. Pierre Gasly and both Ferrari drivers soon came under investigation. A few hours later, Pierre Gasly, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton were disqualified. Following post-race inspections at the Chinese Grand Prix, it was found that the rear skid block on Hamilton’s Ferrari did not meet the minimum thickness required by the technical regulations, leading to his disqualification. As a result, both Ferrari drivers lost their results, including Charles Leclerc, who was disqualified for a breach of car weight rules. Additionally, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly were both disqualified after their Ferrari and Alpine cars were found to be underweight during the post-race checks."
Chinese Grand Prix 2024
Sprint Qualifying
After a brief absence, the Chinese Grand Prix made a spectacular return to the Formula 1 calendar in 2024. Not just with one race, but two, as it hosted a Sprint Weekend, just like this year. The weekend kicked off with drama as unpredictable weather played a key role. Midway through Sprint Qualifying, rain started to fall, causing several drivers to spin off the track and many lap times to be deleted due to track limits.
Despite the chaos, Lando Norris kept his composure in the wet conditions, securing the fastest time and pole position for the Sprint race.
Sprint Race
However, his moment at the top was short-lived. By the first corner, Lewis Hamilton, who had started second, overtook Norris with a bold move. Norris went all-in to reclaim the lead but ended up with nothing to show for it.
The Sprint race was packed with thrilling moments, including an electrifying battle between Max Verstappen and Hamilton. The Dutchman ultimately came out on top, pulling away from the rest of the field to claim a commanding victory. Hamilton secured second place, while Sergio Pérez rounded off the podium.
The return of the Chinese Grand Prix delivered everything fans could hope for: excitement, unpredictability, and unforgettable racing action.
Qualifying
The qualifying session for the Grand Prix was not boring either. With a practice session and just a sprint race completed on a still mostly new circuit for most drivers, they already had to move on to the qualifying for the race. This did not go well for Logan Sargeant, who spun off the track. He wasn’t the only one, as Carlos Sainz also had a big spin but was ultimately able to continue and even set the 7th fastest time. The second Spaniard in the field, who had qualified third the day before, managed to do so again today. But the fastest in the field was, once again, Max Verstappen.
Chinese Grand Prix
And then it was finally time for the Chinese Grand Prix! It marked the first and, for now, the last home race for Zhou Guanyu, who impressively made it to Q3 in his Kick Sauber. Unfortunately, his teammate couldn’t finish the race, coming to a stop and triggering a safety car. This gave some drivers the chance to make a 'free' pit stop.
The chaos didn’t stop there, as Stroll and Ricciardo were involved in an incident, as well as Tsunoda and Magnussen. After an intense battle, Max Verstappen emerged victorious, claiming the win at the Chinese Grand Prix. Lando Norris secured second place, while Sergio Perez once again completed the podium in third.
Why Attend the Chinese Grand Prix?
Shanghai, one of the world’s most vibrant cities, is an exciting destination for F1 fans. The Pudong district offers fantastic bars and restaurants, while the Shanghai Metro makes it easy to reach the circuit. For the best views, head to Grandstand K at Turns 14-15 for all the overtaking action, or Turn 6, where Daniel Ricciardo made a legendary move in 2018.
With young talents like Kimi Antonelli, Ollie Bearman, Jack Doohan, Liam Lawson, and Isack Hadjar making their Shanghai debut, the race promises plenty of excitement. Plus, the city’s rich 5,000-year history offers a unique cultural experience alongside the racing. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable F1 weekend!
But don't worry if you can't make it this year – you have until 2023 to decide if you want to visit this amazing Grand Prix!
Have you ever been to the Chinese Grand Prix?
Have you ever been to the Chinese Grand Prix? If you’d like to share your photos with us, feel free to send them to info@racingmediagirls.com, and you might just see them featured on our website!
Are you going to the Chinese Grand prix?
Are you planning to attend the Chinese Grand Prix and want to be part of our RacingMedia Live Fan Cam? Simply send the word "fancam China" to RacingMediaGirls on Instagram!
Add comment
Comments