F1 China - Speed Race F1

Australia

China

Japan

Bahrain

Saudi Arabia

Miami, USA

E. Romagna

Monaco

Spain

Canada

Austria

Great Britain

Belgium

Hungary

Netherlands

Monza, Italy

Azerbaijan

Singapore

Austin, USA

Mexico

Brazil

Las Vegas, USA

Qatar

Abu Dhabi

First Grand Prix

2004

Number of Laps

56

Circuit Length

5.451 km

Race Distance

305.066 km

Lap Record

1:32.238

Shanghai International Circuit

History and Construction

It was inaugurated in 2004 to expand Formula 1’s presence in Asia.
Part of China’s strategy to position itself as a key player in international motorsport.
The track was built on marshland, requiring deep pilings and advanced engineering techniques.
Its design represents the Chinese character “上” (Shang), meaning "up" or "ascending."
The first F1 race at this circuit was the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix, won by Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari).

Design and Features

It has a length of 5.451 km and features 16 corners.
The longest straight measures 1.175 km, ideal for overtaking with DRS.
It offers a mix of tight corners and fast sections that challenge both car performance and driver skill.
Turn 1 is one of the most unique, with a spiraling, downward layout requiring precise driving.
Its surface is prone to tire degradation, heavily influencing race strategies.

Key Facts

It has hosted 16 Chinese Grands Prix from 2004 to 2019.
In 2007, Lewis Hamilton lost the title after getting stuck in the gravel at the pit lane entry.
In 2019, the circuit hosted Formula 1’s 1000th race in history.
Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, and Lewis Hamilton have achieved memorable victories here.
The fastest race lap was set by Michael Schumacher (2004) with a time of 1:32.238.
It was canceled from 2020 to 2023 due to the pandemic but will return to the F1 calendar in 2024.