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Grand Prix

Chinese Grand Prix

Grandprix of Chinese Grand Prix
city
Shanghai
Circuit length
5.451 km
rounds count
56
fastest lap
1:37.810

Chinese Grand Prix

The Chinese Grand Prix returned to the Formula 1 schedule in 2024. Formula 1 raced at the Shanghai International Circuit in 2019 but didn't visit in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The return Grand Prix was won by Max Verstappen and Red Bull Racing. The circuit combines long straights and some technical corners, typical of a Hermann Tilke design.

F1 Standings

2024
    Pos.NameTeamRoundsTimePoints
    1Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing561:40:52.5540
    2Lando NorrisMcLaren56+13.7730
    3Sergio PerezRed Bull Racing56+19.1600
    4Charles LeclercFerrari56+23.6230
    5Carlos SainzFerrari56+33.9830
    6George RussellMercedes AMG F1 team56+38.7240
    7Fernando AlonsoAston Martin F1 team56+43.4140
    8Oscar PiastriMcLaren56+56.1980
    9Lewis HamiltonMercedes AMG F1 team56+57.9860
    10Nico HulkenbergHaas F156+1:00.4760
    11Valtteri BottasStake F1 Team2+11.2760
    11Esteban OconAlpine F1 team56+1:02.8120
    12Alexander AlbonWilliams56+1:05.5060
    13Pierre GaslyAlpine F1 team56+1:09.2230
    15Lance StrollAston Martin F1 team56+1:22.7860
    16Kevin MagnussenHaas F156+1:27.5330
    17Logan SargeantWilliams56+1:35.1100
    18Daniel RicciardoVisa Cash App RB33DNF0
    19Guanyu ZhouStake F1 Team2+16.0090
    19Yuki TsunodaVisa Cash App RB26DNF0

    The Chinese Grand Prix

    The Chinese Grand Prix was the fifth round in the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship. Since 2004, Hermann Tilke's circuit has been an F1 track. The fastest lap was driven by Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari. He has never been beaten since then. In 2018, Sebastian Vettel was one second below Schumi's time, with a lap in qualifying on Saturday. Schumacher's 1:32.238 has never been broken during a race.

    Chinese F1 history

    In the early 1990s, the Chinese government planned for the circuit to be placed in Zhuhai, in south China. The track was built, and then in 1999, the race was added to the F1 World Championship. However, the track failed to meet certain FIA standards until 2004. The first-ever race was won by Scuderia Ferrari and former driver Rubens Barrichello. But the next year, it hosted one of the most iconic races in F1’s recent history. With Ferrari’s dominance in the early 2000s, it was down to Fernando Alonso and the Renault F1 team to end the Italians’ success. The Chinese Grand Prix was the last round of the F1 calendar in 2005. The next season (2006) was Michael Schumacher's final race victory in Formula 1.

    Rumours began to circulate about the future of the Chinese Grand Prix. After a few years of speculation, former F1 owner Bernie Ecclestone finally put the matter to bed, saying: “We are not dropping anything. (It’s) 20 races – getting ready for 25.”

    In February 2011, it was announced that the Grand Prix would be getting an extension following years of uncertainty. When Liberty Media first took over F1, there were talks of multiple visits to China, but that all stopped when COVID-19 started. The Chinese border was effectively closed, and all international sporting events were cancelled. In 2023, Formula 1 confirmed its return to China for 2024. The event was the first sprint format of the season. It was won by Max Verstappen and he became the first driver from outside the top three on the grid to win a sprint. He went on to dominate Sunday's main race.

    What will the Chinese Grand Prix race weekend look like?

    The race in China will be held in early April. It will also be the first sprint race weekend on the 2024 Formula 1 calendar, meaning teams will only have one practice session to get used to the circuit with the modern cars. The race will start on Sunday, 21st April, at 8am UK time.

    What time does the Chinese Grand Prix start?

    As in previous years, the Chinese GP can be followed live on GPblog from half an hour before the start. The start time is 15:00, and the race can also be followed live on your local TV service. In the United Kingdom, this is Sky Sports.