Rubens Barrichello emerged victorious in the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix, held at the Shanghai International Circuit. The race, which took place in 2004, marked a significant milestone as Formula 1 ventured into uncharted territory beyond the Iron Curtain. With a population exceeding one billion, China presented a tantalizing prospect for the sport. The renowned architect Hermann Tilke, handpicked by Bernie Ecclestone, designed the impressive 5.45 km track at a staggering cost of $450 million. Sponsored by Sinopec, a leading petrochemical company, the race took place on September 26, 2004, as the 16th round of the season. By this point, Ferrari and their esteemed driver, Michael Schumacher, had already secured both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship titles. However, it was Rubens Barrichello, the perennial number two at Ferrari, who clinched victory from pole position, finishing 1.03 seconds ahead of Jenson Button in his BAR-Honda. Kimi Raikkonen completed the podium for McLaren-Mercedes. Notably, the 2004 Chinese Grand Prix was the first Formula 1 race to provide viewers across the globe with unprecedented access to the communication between drivers and their teams.
In 2005, the Chinese Grand Prix served as the season finale. However, it was marred by an incident involving Michael Schumacher’s Ferrari and Christian Albers’ Minardi during the pre-race grid formation. Despite the setback, the race unfolded with Fernando Alonso, the newly crowned F1 world champion, securing pole position and ultimately claiming victory in his Renault. Kimi Raikkonen finished second for McLaren-Mercedes, while Ralf Schumacher secured third place for Toyota. Antonio “Jungle Boy” Pizzonia bid farewell to his racing career following this race.
The battle for the 2006 World Championship between Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher reached its climax at the Brazilian season finale. The 2006 Chinese Grand Prix, the penultimate round of the championship, witnessed Alonso securing pole position and setting the fastest lap of the race. However, it was Michael Schumacher who emerged triumphant, capturing his 91st and final victory in his illustrious career. Alonso settled for second place, with his Renault teammate, Giancarlo Fisichella, claiming the final spot on the podium.
The 2007 Chinese Grand Prix will forever be remembered as a missed opportunity. Lewis Hamilton, the promising newcomer under Ron Dennis’ guidance, was leading the race from the front position in the rain. However, McLaren’s decision to postpone his pit stop resulted in him spinning into the gravel pit at the entrance of the pit lane.
In contrast, Kimi Raikkonen, a former championship contender for Ron, kept his composure and went on to claim victory in the race. Little did anyone know that this win would also secure him the world championship in the season finale in Sao Paulo. It was a significant milestone for Ferrari as well, marking their 200th Formula 1 Grand Prix triumph.
Fernando Alonso, who had experienced a turbulent season with McLaren, managed to salvage second place in the race. Local driver Felipe Massa finished in third position.
Lewis Hamilton redeemed himself in the 2008 Chinese Grand Prix, securing a win for McLaren. This victory marked the beginning of his journey towards seven world championships. Hamilton has since become the most successful driver at the Shanghai circuit, adding more wins to his name with McLaren in 2011 and with Mercedes in 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019.
The 2019 Chinese Grand Prix held a special significance as it marked the 1,000th Formula 1 championship race.
Adrian Newey’s arrival at Red Bull, following his recruitment by Dietrich Mateschitz, was a game-changer. It happened on April 19, 2009. Sebastian Vettel, the talented German prodigy, dominated the race from pole position and claimed victory. His Australian teammate, Mark Webber, secured second place, while Jenson Button, driving for Brawn, completed the podium.
Jenson Button, who had previously won the championship with Ross Brawn’s team in 2009, switched to McLaren and emerged victorious in the 2010 Chinese Grand Prix. His teammate, Lewis Hamilton, set the fastest lap and finished in second place. Nico Rosberg secured the third spot for Mercedes.
Mercedes, a renowned German manufacturer based in Stuttgart, has a rich history in motorsport. In 1955, they guided Juan Manuel Fangio to his third championship title and witnessed Stirling Moss’s iconic triumph in the Mille Miglia. The current Mercedes team is situated in Brackley, England. They orchestrated the remarkable comeback of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. However, it was Keke Rosberg’s son, Nico Rosberg, who claimed their first victory in the modern era of Formula 1 Grand Prix in Shanghai in 2012. Starting from pole position, Nico Rosberg emerged triumphant, with Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton finishing second and third respectively. Kamui Kobayashi, driving for Sauber, set the fastest lap of the race.
In 2013, Fernando Alonso became the only driver, apart from Hamilton, to win the Chinese Grand Prix with two different teams. The Ferrari driver secured first place, followed by Kimi Raikkonen in a Lotus. Hamilton, who started from pole position in his Mercedes, finished in third place.
Between 2014 and 2019, the sole victor outside of the Mercedes team was Daniel Ricciardo, representing Red Bull, in the year 2018. In his championship-winning season of 2016, Rosberg secured his second triumph in Shanghai.
Out of the remaining four races during this time frame, all were claimed by Hamilton. However, the 2019 iteration marked the final occurrence of the Chinese Grand Prix prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, which subsequently halted the event.
This Sunday, the Chinese Grand Prix will make its long-awaited comeback as the fifth round out of a total of 24. It is an eagerly anticipated occasion, with the possibility of witnessing a Shanghai Surprise, such as a maiden victory for Norris or Piastri, or even Leclerc emerging victorious for the first time since Austria in July 2022.
Notably, the Verstappen name has yet to grace the winners’ circle at this prestigious event. Nevertheless, it is widely expected that Max Verstappen will deliver a remarkable performance at the 18th edition of the Chinese Grand Prix.