Formula 1 is returning to China for the first time since 2019. Some of the current drivers have never driven on this track and several fans will be unfamiliar with the Shanghai International Circuit. So let’s take a look at this track in anticipation of the Chinese Grand Prix.
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Track length | 5,451 km |
| Corners | 16 |
| DRS zones | 2 |
| Last winner | Lewis Hamilton, 2019 |
| Lap record | 1:32.238 (Michael Schumacher, 2004) |
The Shanghai International Circuit is an old favorite of Formula 1, giving some incredible moments in F1 history. It was the site of Red Bull’s first victory in 2009 and marked the final race win by Michael Schumacher in 2006.
At 5,451 kilometers long, it sits in the upper half of longer F1 tracks. It’s comparable to Bahrain or the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. In terms of laptime, it’s also comparable to Bahrain, as well as Silverstone and Suzuka.
The track consists of two long straights, both containing DRS zones. There are 16 corners in total, including two hairpins and several long follow-throughs. The first group of corners is especially interesting and unique, as it sends the drivers in a full circle before they continue on with their lap.
A lap in Shanghai
The lap starts on the first straight, running towards the first corner at full speed. You turn into the first corner, trying to maintain as much of that speed as possible while going in a long circle. The speed drops down further on the approach to turn three. Make sure to get a good exit on turn 3, otherwise turn 4 will be hell. Not because it’s so difficult, but because it sets you off on a new section of straight with a slight curve at turn 5. Drop the anchors for turn 6, the first proper hairpin on the track.
From there, we get an incredibly high paced section of the track, as turns 7 and 8 are wide, high-speed corners similar to the esses on Suzuka. Turn 9 and 10 force you to slow down again, before accelerating on the short straight towards turn 11. Turns 11, 12 and 13 form another long circle similar to the start of the track, allowing you to build up your speed as you gear up for the first of the long straights. DRS detection is at the start of this circle and will kick in about halfway through the back straight. This straight goes on for long enough to push the car to its full performance. Drop the anchors again for the hairpin in turn 14, before gearing up for the final corner, which is a slow left-hander. DRS kicks in again on the start-finish straight, and that’s a lap in Shanghai.
Is it easy to overtake?
Perhaps the most important question if we’re looking at the quality of racing here this weekend: is it easy to overtake someone on this track?
The answer, is yes. Relatively speaking at least. In the past, there have been about 40 overtakes per race in China. That would put it halfway between the Australian and Japanese Grands Prix of this season. The cars are a bit larger now than they were in the past, so expect that number to be a little bit lower.
That being said, there are plenty of places fit for overtaking. The long straights provide plenty of opportunity for overtaking, especially within the two DRS zones. But the long, high speed corners are also very suitable for some wheel-to-wheel racing. We know that for example Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz are very good at overtakes on sections like that. The hairpins in turns 6 and 14 lend themselves very well to a late braking maneuver, something that drivers like Max Verstappen and Lando Norris are very fond of.
What about Safety Cars?
Based on the past, the chance of a Safety Car is 75%. The chance of a Virtual Safety Car sits at 50%. The many fast corners in the track allow for excellent duels, but can also result in a pretty bad crash if things go wrong. The same goes for the two hairpins, where a daring overtake might be incredible to look at, or it could result in a car facing the wrong way. The weather will also play a part in this: rain is expected on Saturday during the sprint. While it will most likely be dry on Sunday, the track will still be fairly cold, resulting in less grip for the drivers.
How kind is this track on the tyres?
That’s a little hard to say. The last time F1 raced in Shanghai, the tyres were very different. Pirelli estimates that the track will not push the tyres to the extremes and is therefore bringing along their mid-range compounds. They suggest the drivers aim for a two-stop strategy, same as in Japan and Australia. Overall, the track shouldn’t be too demanding for the tyres.
