Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, driving for Red Bull Racing, competes in the RB20 car during the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit on April 19, 2024. This Formula 1 World Championship event marks the return of the sport to Shanghai after a five-year hiatus caused by complications related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Shanghai International Circuit has been a regular fixture on the Formula 1 calendar since 2004. However, due to the global pandemic in 2019, the race was not held for five consecutive years. Compared to other well-established tracks like Monza, the Shanghai International Circuit is relatively new, having been constructed in 2003 in the Jiading District of Shanghai. The purpose of building this circuit was to showcase the city to the world through hosting Formula 1 races.
One of the most notable features of the Shanghai International Circuit is its challenging corners, often referred to as “snails.” These corners consist of tight right-hand curves followed immediately by left-hand turns. The bends in these corners turn nearly 270 degrees in both directions. The hairpin at Turn 3 leads into an even tighter Turn 4, requiring drivers to exit smoothly and quickly in order to maintain speed on the subsequent straight before Turn 5.
Sector 1 of the circuit is particularly demanding on both the brakes and the throttle, as drivers have little time to rest after navigating the initial corners. Turn 6 introduces a right-hand curve with a large run-off area, leading into the high-speed chicane formed by Turns 7 and 8. The following left-handers create a constant G-force of three, with a minimum speed of 160 km/h (99mph) before entering the slow left corners at Turns 9 and 10. Drivers must maintain focus and execute a strong exit from Turn 10 to maximize their speed on the straight.
Continuing into the next set of corners, Turns 11 and 12 are low-traction and slow left-hand chicanes that lead into a long right-hander. Turn 13 requires a powerful exit, as it leads into the longest straight on the track, measuring 1.170 km (0.727 miles). This straight leads to the hairpin at Turn 14, which is known as one of the prime overtaking zones on the circuit. Drivers can utilize the Drag Reduction System (DRS) to aid in overtaking maneuvers on this straight. The final corner, Turn 16, is a challenging left-hand curve that brings the drivers back to the pit straight.
Shanghai International Circuit is a favorite among fans due to its combination of challenging corners and long straights, which provide ample opportunities for overtaking. As the host of the first Sprint weekend of the 2024 season, the circuit has undergone important modifications to its surface in preparation for the race. After being mostly inactive since 2019, the track required smoothing before Formula 1 cars could take to the circuit on Friday.
With the introduction of ground effect aerodynamics once again, it is crucial to have smooth surfaces on the circuits as rough tracks can disrupt the performance of the cars. The organizers of the track have collaborated with circuit designer Tilke to ensure that the track surface is as smooth as possible. This has resulted in teams having very limited and outdated data about the track.
Before the Sprint Qualifying on Friday, teams were given only one hour-long Practice session to familiarize themselves with the new track surface. Simone Berra, the Pirelli Formula 1 Chief Engineer, expressed that this will be a significant challenge not only for Pirelli but also for the teams. It is important for them to understand how the track has aged over the years, considering both micro and macro roughness.
Current World Champion Max Verstappen shared his thoughts on the situation, stating that he believes it is not ideal to make such changes to a track after a long absence. He believes that the unpredictability of the experience could have been avoided by having a normal race weekend instead.
Shanghai has been a venue for significant moments in Formula 1 history. It witnessed Fernando Alonso becoming the youngest Drivers’ World Champion in 2005 and also hosted the 1000th Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2019.