The third round of the 2016 Formula 1 season takes place at the Shanghai International Circuit in China.
It is the 13th running of the Chinese Grand Prix and follows an action-packed race in Bahrain, with Nico Rosberg taking victory for Mercedes.
The Shanghai International Circuit is a tricky and technical track, with a wide variety of corners and several long straights. It typically produces good racing, as there are plenty of overtaking opportunities. The weather is often cool and overcast, which contrasts heavily with the heat and humidity of the last location F1 visited, Bahrain.
The 2016 season kicked off last month in Australia, with Rosberg claiming victory. However, it was Fernando Alonso who hit the headlines after a huge crash. He was ruled out of running in Bahrain and is hoping to pass the FIA medical and be deemed fit to return to the grid in China.
Mercedes remains the team to beat but Ferrari looks much closer, as proved in Bahrain. Behind, the scrap for third appears hotly contested, with Williams and Red Bull leading the charge, ahead of Toro Rosso, Haas and Force India. F1 debuted in China back in 2004, at the striking Shanghai International Circuit.
It was typically one of the final races on the calendar but in 2009 it moved to an early-season slot on the schedule, remaining there ever since. The Shanghai International Circuit was built on swampland and took 18 months to complete, costing $450 million. However, its location has caused some subsidence in recent years, creating additional bumps on an already uneven surface.
The three sectors each have unique characteristics. The first contains a number of slow corners, while the second features more medium and high-speed bends. The final section features a bit of everything, including a long straight and tight hairpin.
A lap of the 3.39 mile, Hermann Tile-designed layout starts on the long pit straight. This is where the first DRS zone will be positioned, with the pitlane to the right-hand side.
The first and second corners make up a long-duration, challenging and gradually tightening right-hander that gently dips downhill. The slow left-hander of Turn 3 is next up, before the fast kink of Turn 4.
A good exit is crucial for the following short straight, which is broken up by the flat-out Turn 5. The second sector begins just prior to the heavy braking zone for the Turn 6 hairpin, which is another strong overtaking spot.
The cars then power uphill towards the sweeping, high-speed seventh and eighth corners. The tricky left-right complex is taken at high speed and requires a car with strong downforce levels. The ninth and 10th turns follow soon after, with both being slow left-handers.
After a short straight, the third sector kicks off just before the braking zone for the Turn 11 and 12 chicane. It is a slow left-right section that requires an aggressive approach and plenty of kerb. It is immediately followed by the long right-hander of Turn 13, which fires cars onto one of the sport’s longest straights. This is where the second DRS zone will be.
Turn 14 is undoubtedly the best passing place on the track. The incredibly heavy braking zone means mistakes are often made, and brake wear is usually an issue during the Chinese Grand Prix.
The right-hand hairpin is followed by the almost non-existent Turn 15, with the 90-degree right of Turn 16 completing the lap. The pit entry is just prior to the final corner, with drivers heading straight on instead of turning.
The track surface isn’t very abrasive at the Shanghai International Circuit, but the tyres are often worked hard. Pirelli will bring the medium, soft and super-soft compounds to China, which are best suited to the cooler conditions and variety of corner types. However, because of this, car set-up is very tricky.
Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver in the race’s history, having won the Chinese Grand Prix four times. Alonso is the only other multiple winner, taking victory in 2005 and 2013, while Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button and Rosberg have all picked up one win each in China.
Chinese Grand Prix Fact File:
Location: Shanghai, China
Track Length: 3.387 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 16
Laps: 56
First race: 2004
Lap record: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004, 1m32.238
Tyre compounds: Medium, soft and super-soft
2015 race winner: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2015 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m35.782
2015 fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m42.208
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights Channel 4)
 |
| © Mercedes |
The Shanghai International Circuit is a tricky and technical track, with a wide variety of corners and several long straights. It typically produces good racing, as there are plenty of overtaking opportunities. The weather is often cool and overcast, which contrasts heavily with the heat and humidity of the last location F1 visited, Bahrain.
 |
| © Red Bull Content Pool |
The 2016 season kicked off last month in Australia, with Rosberg claiming victory. However, it was Fernando Alonso who hit the headlines after a huge crash. He was ruled out of running in Bahrain and is hoping to pass the FIA medical and be deemed fit to return to the grid in China.
Mercedes remains the team to beat but Ferrari looks much closer, as proved in Bahrain. Behind, the scrap for third appears hotly contested, with Williams and Red Bull leading the charge, ahead of Toro Rosso, Haas and Force India. F1 debuted in China back in 2004, at the striking Shanghai International Circuit.
It was typically one of the final races on the calendar but in 2009 it moved to an early-season slot on the schedule, remaining there ever since. The Shanghai International Circuit was built on swampland and took 18 months to complete, costing $450 million. However, its location has caused some subsidence in recent years, creating additional bumps on an already uneven surface.
The three sectors each have unique characteristics. The first contains a number of slow corners, while the second features more medium and high-speed bends. The final section features a bit of everything, including a long straight and tight hairpin.
 |
| © Force India F1 Team |
A lap of the 3.39 mile, Hermann Tile-designed layout starts on the long pit straight. This is where the first DRS zone will be positioned, with the pitlane to the right-hand side.
The first and second corners make up a long-duration, challenging and gradually tightening right-hander that gently dips downhill. The slow left-hander of Turn 3 is next up, before the fast kink of Turn 4.
A good exit is crucial for the following short straight, which is broken up by the flat-out Turn 5. The second sector begins just prior to the heavy braking zone for the Turn 6 hairpin, which is another strong overtaking spot.
The cars then power uphill towards the sweeping, high-speed seventh and eighth corners. The tricky left-right complex is taken at high speed and requires a car with strong downforce levels. The ninth and 10th turns follow soon after, with both being slow left-handers.
After a short straight, the third sector kicks off just before the braking zone for the Turn 11 and 12 chicane. It is a slow left-right section that requires an aggressive approach and plenty of kerb. It is immediately followed by the long right-hander of Turn 13, which fires cars onto one of the sport’s longest straights. This is where the second DRS zone will be.
 |
| © McLaren |
Turn 14 is undoubtedly the best passing place on the track. The incredibly heavy braking zone means mistakes are often made, and brake wear is usually an issue during the Chinese Grand Prix.
The right-hand hairpin is followed by the almost non-existent Turn 15, with the 90-degree right of Turn 16 completing the lap. The pit entry is just prior to the final corner, with drivers heading straight on instead of turning.
The track surface isn’t very abrasive at the Shanghai International Circuit, but the tyres are often worked hard. Pirelli will bring the medium, soft and super-soft compounds to China, which are best suited to the cooler conditions and variety of corner types. However, because of this, car set-up is very tricky.
Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver in the race’s history, having won the Chinese Grand Prix four times. Alonso is the only other multiple winner, taking victory in 2005 and 2013, while Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastian Vettel, Jenson Button and Rosberg have all picked up one win each in China.
Chinese Grand Prix Fact File: Location: Shanghai, China
Track Length: 3.387 miles
Direction: Clockwise
Turns: 16
Laps: 56
First race: 2004
Lap record: Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004, 1m32.238
Tyre compounds: Medium, soft and super-soft
2015 race winner: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2015 pole position: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m35.782
2015 fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1m42.208
Live on: Sky Sports F1 (Highlights Channel 4)
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