Well, here we are, already looking at Round 5. Two weeks ago we were in 'Yuki'town and now we move onto Guanyu-ville. Yes this weekend we will see for the first time ever a Chinese driver taking part in a Chinese (F1) GP. Five years after celebrating F1’s 1000th Grand Prix, we return to Shanghai for Round 5 of the 2024 season and the 20th anniversary of the first-ever Chinese Grand Prix.
Talking about "Joe" he is already a superstar locally, and likely to be moreso by the weekend..... A film about his life will be released by the Shanghai Media Group, a state-owned company, one of China’s largest media conglomerates, on the Friday before the race in Shanghai. The 90-minute Chinese language documentary, has been timed to coincide with the return of F1 to China after five years away, is entitled The First One, it follows Zhou’s rise.
This will go on general release in thousands of cinemas across the country and is likely to turn Zhou into a star with more followers than Gunther Steiner (if such a thing is possible).
Back to racing
We saw Max Red Bull, after their temporary hiccup in Melbourne, return to the fore at Suzuka, and indeed we saw another Red Bull 1-2..... but a completely different challenge will await the field this weekend as China returns to F1 –.Indeed, after a five-year absence, the Shanghai International Circuit is back for the drivers and teams to tackle. Also after a shorter break, so does the dreaded Sprint format return.
The last time we were here in Shanghai was back before Covid in 2019..... strict regulations to control the spread of COVID-19 have seen China left off the F1 calendar since. However, a new contract was signed in November 2021 that will guarantee the race’s future until at least 2025.
That 2019 event had the honour of being the 1000th ever World Championship GP.
A lot has happened in the world (both Globally and within F1) since Lewis Hamilton led home then-team mate Valtteri Bottas and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel..... since we were last in China, we have moved on from the days of Mercedes dominance we were in the middle of....Lewis still had another couple of titles up his sleeve, before we got to the the new fizzy drink world domination we now know. What else has happened. Also Renault have gone, replaced by Alpine, Alfa Romeo have gone, replaced by Sauber, as have Torro Rosso who have had two identities since then, Alpha Tauri and now RB or VCARB. Of course we also have Aston Martin racing in place of Racing Point. (Yesterday we leart that Aston Martin have signed up through to 2030)
Last time we were in China Mercedes left with almost double the points of Ferrari and nearly three times that of Red Bull. This weekend Mercedes return to China in a different world..... down in 4th place behind McLaren and well over 100 points behind Red Bull.
Names like KImi Raikkonen Sebastian Vettel, Grosjean, Kvyat, Kubica and Giovinazzi all raced here last time..... four drivers have never raced in Shanghai – including Oscar Piastri, Yuki Tsunoda and Logan Sargeant – and that means it will be a first home race for Zhou Guanyu who obviously knows the track well so I dont include in the newbies ranks..
Oh and last time Max raced here he had only 5 wins under his belt.
Yes, the F1 world has changed a lot since we were last in Shanghai. I
ronically Alonso didnt drive last time, but he is back now, fresh with a new contract to see him with Aston Martin for at least two more years.
Oh and I almost forgot to mention, this is the first time we have been to Shanghai will the current ground effect cars.
This weekend.
The word is that the characteristics of the circuit will suit Ferrari more and Red Bull less. I am not convinced.
McLaren dont think it will suit them....I agree as the track layout is far from their comfort zone as it can get. Also their upgrade package wont be around until Miami.
McLaren sometimes have had problems here before.....
Mercedes I just cant predict. They can have a good Friday and then it all turns to crap on Saturday and who knows on Sunday
Aston Martin, well one of them I think could be up there ahead of Mercedes.
In relity so much is unknown about what the track will be like so predicting is all a bit of a finger in the wind and guess. We know the track has been inspected, with some bumps worrying those that inspected the track. Its a notoriously abrasive track anyway, or it was, and with some resurfacing and flattening having been done it is all going to be suck it and see.
Hopefully they have stuck all the drain covers down and we dont lose the only practice session to fixing drains.
Hardly the ideal scenario to be faced knowing you have just one practice session all weekend. And very much made worse by the fact the track has barely been used for 5 years and therefore tyre deg is a lottery..... due to the ‘green-ness’ of the track surface, high circuit evolution is guaranteed to take place as the weekend unfolds.
We are also here for the first time ever with the 18 inch tyres, so any data is totally irrelevant.
Makes you wonder why they chose it as the venue to christen the new format Sprint weekend format.
Who will do well here? It could come down to something as silly as he who has the least troubled practice. A car issue in practice will be a huge disaster.
It could well be chaotic.
What do we know about Shanghai.?
First a bit of culture!
Shanghai literally means above (Shang) and sea (Hai) (The track design itself was inspired by the Mandarin character shang (上), which means "above" or "higher than." )
Originally a fishing and textiles town, Shanghai grew to importance in the19th century due to its favourable port location, and its strategic position
at the mouth of the Yangtze River made it an ideal location for trade withthe West. It was one of the cities opened to foreign trade by the 1842
Treaty of Nanking. The city flourished as a centre of commerce betweeneast and west, and became a multinational hub of finance and business
by the 1930s.
Now its huge.... the city of Shanhai officially has a population greater than that of all Australia!
Landmarks such as the jaw-dropping Shanghai Tower, the beautiful Yu Gardens (pic above), and the water town of Zhujiajiao, known as the Venice of Shanghai, are just some of the landmarks that make Shanghai a must-visit.
Motor Racing in China.....
China is a late bloomer when it comes to motorsports. After a turbulent time in the 1980s, China's citizens began to adopt a fondness for Western culture. When wages and a solid middle class grew, many Chinese people found themselves able to afford cars after years of travelling mainly by bus or bicycle.
China's government rapidly adapted to the way its citizens travelled and authorised a massive infrastructure budget in the 1990s. Now China completes construction on about 10,000 km of highway every year.
Additionally, in 1999 the former Portuguese territory of Macau and 1997 the British-ruled Hong Kong reverted back to semi-autonomous states of China. These islands were decades ahead of mainland China regarding car culture. In fact, Macau held its first street circuit race in the 1950s.
Naturally, when cars enter the picture, the next logical step is racing. And in the 1990s, that's exactly what China did.
In the early 90s, Zhuhai in Guandong province had a street circuit that drew racers and enthusiasts from all over the country. As the popularity of the street circuit grew, organisers also grew more interested in building a motor racing circuit.
China had its eyes on Formula 1.
The Zhuhai circuit finished construction in 1996. It features 14 turns, and a 4.319 km lap length. Zhuhai's design makes it a track that tests the driver's ability to manage their speed and braking. Many drivers felt that Zhuhai took a significant toll on their brakes, more so than other tracks.
While Zhuhai was very popular on a national level, the track simply wasn't up to Formula 1 standards. Zhuhai was initially on the books for the 1999 F1 GP circuit. However, F1's governing body ultimately decided the track did not qualify for F1 status.
China needed another option.
The Chinese Grand Prix has been on the Formula 1 calendar since 2004. It marked the dream of the Chinese government and long-time F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone to race in China.
Plans to hold an F1 race in China had started to take shape during the 1990s. But intentions to add a Grand Prix at the Zhuhai International Circuit to the 1999 calendar fell through after the track failed to meet FIA standards. Yet Ecclestone was intent on F1 holding a Chinese GP.
Support from the organisers of the iconic Macau Grand Prix ultimately helped to pave a path for the first F1 race in China in 2004. Shanghai also replaced Zhuhai as the host city, with the local authorities eager to show their municipality to the world as F1’s fanbase in China grew.
The Chinese government and the Shanghai authorities were determined to see their plans for a Formula 1 race succeed after the Zhuhai International Circuit’s failures. The support of the Macau Grand Prix organisers would also pay off as they helped to develop a new circuit.
Formula 1 struck a deal with the management of the Shanghai International Circuit to host a Chinese GP, signing the deal in 2002 whilst the track was constructed. It was also the most expensive track F1 had raced at.
Renowned circuit architect Hermann Tilke designed the Shanghai International Circuit with a blend of cutting-edge facilities and traditional Chinese symbols. It was the first track in China built with Formula 1 viewed as the goal. The first Chinese GP took place in September 2004.
I will get onto the actual CHinese GP race history later.
LETS GET THE TIMETABLE DONE.
Sprint weekend, and a new format for the sprints. Friday's schedule begins with Free Practice One in the morning....as I mentioned it will be the only practice drivers have before sprint qualifying determines the grid for Saturday's sprint race. Indeed the only practice session of the weekend.
The limited practice time has been a point of contention among teams and drivers, especially given the four-year hiatus from the Shanghai track.
The sprint race, will unfold on Saturday morning, followed by the qualifying for the Grand Prix Saturday afternoon.
As usual, Sunday will host the Grand Prix.
I have added a few time zones to help.
Friday 19 April
Free Practice 1:
11:30 - 12:30 local time
04:30 - 05:30 London
20:30 - 21:30 Los Angeles (Thursday 18 April)
23:30 - 00:30 New York (Thursday 18 April)
05:30 - 06:30 Europe
12:30 - 13:30 Tokyo
13:30 -14:30 Melbourne
Sprint Qualifying:
15:30 - 16:14 local time
08:30 - 09:14 London
00:30 - 01:14 Los Angeles
03:30 - 04:14 New York
09:30 - 10:14 Europe
16:30 - 17:14 Tokyo
17:30 - 18:14 Melbourne
Saturday 20 April
Sprint Race:
11:00 - 12:00 local time
04:00 - 05:00 London
20:00 - 21:00 Los Angeles (Friday 19 April)
23:00 - 00:00 New York (Friday 19 April)
05:00 - 06:00 Europe
12:00 - 13:00 Tokyo
13:00 - 14:00 Melbourne
Qualifying:
15:00 - 16:00 local time
08:00 - 09:00 London
00:00 - 01:00 Los Angeles
03:00 - 04:00 New York
09:00 - 10:00 Europe
16:00 - 17:00 Tokyo
17:00 - 18:00 Melbourne
Sunday 21 April
Race:
15:00 local time
08:00 London
00:00 Los Angeles
03:00 New York
09:00 Europe
16:00 Tokyo
17:00 Melbourne
THE TRACK
The circuit’s pleasing form when seen from the air
All 16 Chinese GPs have been run on the Shanghai International Circuit, designed by Hermann Tilke. its outline, as mentioned, loosely based on the Chinese “shang” character, meaning “up above.” The 5.451 kilometre-long track boasts 16 corners, many of them very slow, for example the section through turns 1 to 3 and 6 to 14, while others are high speed such as the esses through turns 7 and 8. There are two long straights, both used as a DRS zone, with one on the start-finish straight and the other on the over a kilometre long back straight, from turn 13, which is slightly banked into turn 14.
The Shanghai International Circuit can be a challenging test through its mixture of sweeping corners and long straights. It has a unique first corner which tightens into T2.
Drivers must be committed as they send their cars into Turn 1 before managing their braking through the ever-tightening T2. The flow lets drivers jostle for positions through both bends before the Turn 3 hairpin left. Turn 6 then presents another great opportunity for overtakes.
Tight fights can continue all the way through the middle sector of the Shanghai International Circuit, as well. Turn 7 offers a chance at a pass through the sweeping left-hander before the heavy-braking points of Turns 9 and 11. But a move into T11 can leave the driver vulnerable.
DRS part-way along the 1.9km (1.2m) straight between Turn 13 and the T14 hairpin is a key overtaking zone. Turn 13 can also pose a challenge in itself with the corner’s banked design. Drivers can also make moves into the last corner at T16 before using DRS on the pit straight.
First Grand Prix
2004
Number of Laps
56
Circuit Length
5.451km
Race Distance
305.066 km
Lap Record
1:32.238 Michael Schumacher (2004)
Most wins: 6 for Lewis Hamilton (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Shanghai
When was the track built?
In April 2003, a marshland in the Jiading District of Shanghai was earmarked for Formula 1 greatness. Eighteen months and around $450 million later, the state-of-the-art Shanghai International Circuit was complete.
When was its first Grand Prix?
The 2004 season featured two new races, one of which was the Chinese Grand Prix (the other was Bahrain). If either were added to try and stop Ferrari from winning everything, however, it didn’t work – Michael Schumacher won in Bahrain, while Rubens Barrichello triumphed in China.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME IN 2019.
Hamilton beat Bottas as Mercedes dominated F1's 1000th WDC race
As Formula 1 celebrated the 1000th World Championship race, Lewis Hamilton led home team mate Valtteri Bottas as Mercedes secured their third one-two in as many races to start the 2019 season. On a day when Ferrari had no answer for the Silver Arrows, Sebastian Vettel completed the podium in third.
Hamilton’s win meant that Shanghai joined the Hungaroring and the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on the list of tracks where Hamilton has secured six victories.
Behind the Mercedes pair, Vettel’s podium position was effectively secured when Ferrari team orders saw Charles Leclerc moved over early in the race, with the Bahrain near-victor ending up a frustrating fifth, behind the Red Bull of Max Verstappen.
Sixth was Pierre Gasly, who strapped a new set of soft tyres onto his Red Bull two laps from the end to help him take the extra point for fastest lap.
Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo secured his first finish of the year – and it was a good one too, the Australian ending seventh at the head of the midfield, holding off the Racing Point of Sergio Perez, who used a lightning start from P12 on the grid to finish P8 by the flag.
A strong drive from Alfa Romeo's Kimi Raikkonen saw him finish ninth, while an impressive afternoon from Toro Rosso's Alexander Albon from a pit lane start saw him make a one-stop strategy work to finish P10 after holding off the Haas of Romain Grosjean.Alex's efforts also saw him earn ‘Driver of The Day’.
POS NO DRIVER CAR LAPS TIME/RETIRED PTS
1 44 Lewis Hamilton MERCEDES 56 1:32:06.350 25
2 77 Valtteri Bottas MERCEDES 56 +6.552s 18
3 5 Sebastian Vettel FERRARI 56 +13.744s 15
4 33 Max Verstappen RED BULL RACING HONDA 56 +27.627s 12
5 16 Charles Leclerc FERRARI 56 +31.276s 10
6 10 Pierre Gasly RED BULL RACING HONDA 56 +89.307s 9
7 3 Daniel Ricciardo RENAULT 55 +1 lap 6
8 11 Sergio Perez RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES 55 +1 lap 4
9 7 Kimi Räikkönen ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI 55 +1 lap 2
10 23 Alexander Albon SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO HONDA 55 +1 lap 1
11 8 Romain Grosjean HAAS FERRARI 55 +1 lap 0
12 18 Lance Stroll RACING POINT BWT MERCEDES 55 +1 lap 0
13 20 Kevin Magnussen HAAS FERRARI 55 +1 lap 0
14 55 Carlos Sainz MCLAREN RENAULT 55 +1 lap 0
15 99 Antonio Giovinazzi ALFA ROMEO RACING FERRARI 55 +1 lap 0
16 63 George Russell WILLIAMS MERCEDES 54 +2 laps 0
17 88 Robert Kubica WILLIAMS MERCEDES 54 +2 laps 0
18 4 Lando Norris MCLAREN RENAULT 50 DNF 0
NC 26 Daniil Kvyat SCUDERIA TORO ROSSO HONDA 41 DNF 0
NC 27 Nico Hulkenberg RENAULT 16 DNF 0
Note - Gasly scored an additional point for setting the fastest lap of the race. Albon started the race from the pit lane.
Race Highlights..... click watch on youtube.
Lewis didnt always have it his way in China though.....
Lewis Hamilton’s unfortunate DNF here in 2007 is the only time the polesitter at the Chinese Grand Prix has failed to finish the race.
TYRES
Based on simulations and past data, the tyres are subjected to lateral and longitudinal forces here that fall into the medium category, with the outside of the tyre, especially on the left hand side of the car, wearing the most.
The trio of tyres chosen back in the winter for Shanghai is in the midrange, with the C2 as Hard, the C3 as Medium and the C4 as Soft. Nominally, that’s the same selection as in 2019 but the scenario is very different. Five years ago, the 13 inch tyres were still in use, fitted to the previous generation of car, which had a flat floor and completely different aerodynamics to the current car. In fact, for the drivers, the teams and indeed for Pirelli, it’s pretty much a matter of starting from scratch, given that the references are very vague.
Further complicating the situation is the fact that the Chinese Grand Prix is the first of six events this season running to the Sprint format, which itself has been slightly modified for this year in terms of the running order of the sessions. Free practice and Sprint qualifying are on Friday, the Sprint race and qualifying on Saturday, with the Grand Prix, as always, on the Sunday. Parc ferme has also been changed, so that it is now split into two parts: one which covers qualifying and the Sprint race and the other that starts before Saturday afternoon’s qualifying.
That means there is only one hour of free practice on Friday to find the right set-up for the cars and, above all, to evaluate the tyres over a long run on a track that will inevitably be in far from optimal condition. It is likely that, in terms of grip, evolution of the track that has not changed since 2019 and has only been used very infrequently since then, will be very significant, as bit by bit the cars rubber-in the surface. This means that work in the simulator takes on even greater importance for the drivers and engineers, both in the run up to the event and during it.
The Sprint format also means a different dry tyre allocation, dropping from 13 sets to 12 (two Hard, four Medium and six Soft) while the number of wet weather sets remains the same (five Intermediate and two Extreme Wet). April in Shanghai can see a marked change in temperatures with variations of around 10 °C, which adds another variable to the puzzle that the teams and drivers must piece together. Usually, the Chinese Grand Prix is a two-stop race, partly because there are several places where overtaking is possible, such as braking into turn 14 and then on the main straight and braking into turn 6. Just as it was in Suzuka, the undercut is usually very effective in Shanghai.
HISTORY
Winners of the F1 Chinese GP
2004 Chinese GP: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)
2005 Chinese GP: Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2006 Chinese GP: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2007 Chinese GP: Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2008 Chinese GP: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2009 Chinese GP: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull)
2010 Chinese GP: Jenson Button (McLaren)
2011 Chinese GP: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2012 Chinese GP: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2013 Chinese GP: Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2014 Chinese GP: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015 Chinese GP: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2016 Chinese GP: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2017 Chinese GP: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2018 Chinese GP: Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
2019 Chinese GP: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
Ferrari have had the most podium finishes here, with 13. Mercedes trail them with 12.
Memorable moments from F1's Chinese Grand Prix history
The Chinese Grand Prix's Formula 1 history is littered with incidents that could be considered bizarre, controversial, and sometimes decisive in the destiny of the world championship
BAR gets the blues
British American Racing famously tried to run cars in two different liveries when it joined the F1 grid in 1999, but that plan was blocked by the FIA so for its first season it ran a half-and-half 'zipper' livery.
After that, its 555 branding made way for Lucky Strike as the sole title sponsor, but in the early years of the Chinese Grand Prix the blue brand was called back into service as it was so popular in that market.
When teams were allowed to run a third car in free practice, BAR went to the extreme with its 555 colours for Anthony Davidson.
Michael Schumacher's 2005 season was largely forgettable as Ferrari struggled to be competitive, and he was caught up in an incident that summed the year up ahead of the Chinese race that year.
The reigning world champion was in the wars before the start, when he drifted across into the path of the Minardi of Christijan Albers as both were on an exploratory lap from the pits to the grid.
Both cars suffered heavy damage and the drivers were forced to start from the pits, but Schumacher's race lasted just 22 laps before he spun off behind the safety car and was forced into an embarrassing retirement.
He made up for it the following year.....
Michael Schumacher's Final Win, 2006
Michael Schumacher announced he would retire from F1 at the end of the year immediately after winning the 2006 Italian Grand Prix.
The victory took him to within two points of Fernando Alonso at the head of the drivers' championship with three races to go. Next up was the Chinese Grand Prix.
Alonso got his weekend off to the best possible start by qualifying on pole, but Schumacher struggled. The Bridgestone intermediates were not as good as the Michelins on the damp Shanghai track, and the German could only manage the sixth-fastest time.
But when race day arrived, everything changed.
The track was wet at the start, but it quickly dried, favouring the Bridgestones, and Schumacher was able to cut through the field to challenge for the lead.
He was second to Alonso's team-mate, Giancarlo Fisichella, when he made the switch to dry tyres on Lap 40. Fisichella remained out for a further lap and emerged from the pits ahead of Schumacher, but the Italian slid wide at Turn 1 on cold rubber.
Schumacher swept through to seize a lead he never relinquished, won the race and stood on the top step of the podium for the 91st and final time.
Montoya hits a drain
Another bizarre moment from the second Chinese GP: while running in the leading pack, Juan Pablo Montoya hit a drain cover that was sticking out from one of the kerbs, damaging his tyre.
As the McLaren man pitted, before later having to retire, the race was placed under safety car conditions, with teams informing their drivers to avoid the kerb in question because they didn't know if the drain had been replaced or if it had left a big hole!
2007: Hamilton’s pit-lane calamity: As the penultimate round of the 2007 season, Lewis Hamilton headed into the Chinese Grand Prix as the comfortable championship leader with an opportunity to secure the title. He appeared unstoppable as he took pole position for the potentially title-deciding race. With his tires suffering extreme wear, McLaren kept Hamilton out for further laps. The decision proved to be costly, as the Brit slid off the track at the pit-entry, getting beached in the gravel. As a result, Kimi Raikkonen took a crucial win, while Hamilton still led the championship, but by only four points from his team-mate Fernando Alonso. We all remember how that year panned out.
Hitting the Bullseye
The change in F1 rules for 2009 enabled Red Bull to catapult itself from midfield contender to frontrunner, and at just the third race of the year the team took its first pole victory in style.
Bad weather played its part again, as it has so often in China, but Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber took a comfortable one-two, more than half a minute clear of the rest of the field, to announce the Milton Keynes team's arrival as a serious player.
Red Bull missed out on the world championship that year, but it made up for it by winning the next four.
Buemi's wheels come off
When you get to the end of the longest straight in Formula 1, your first hope is that everything holds together to get you slowed down safely for the hairpin at the end of it.
Brake failure or a sticking throttle would be the worst outcome to suffer, but your front two wheels popping off the car almost simultaneously wouldn't be far down that scary list.
That's exactly what happened to Toro Rosso driver Sebastien Buemi in 2010 during free practice. Fortunately he didn't hit anything too hard and he was able to breathe a sigh of relief at a lucky escape.
And to his credit, he did try to keep steering even after the wheels had disappeared from his car.
2018: Ricciardo wins from sixth: After nearly missing qualifying due to an engine issue, Daniel Ricciardo took an unexpected victory in the 2018 race at Shanghai. Sebastian Vettel took pole and led for the early stages, but it was Valtteri Bottas who emerged in front after the first round of pit-stops. A tangle between the Toro Rosso drivers saw the Safety Car called out, with perfect timing for the Red Bull drivers, who pitted. As his team-mate clattered into Vettel’s Ferrari, Ricciardo diced his way through the field, pulling off a daring move on Bottas to take the lead, where he remained for the rest of the race. Ricciardo was the first driver to win the Chinese Grand Prix from as far back as sixth on the grid since Michael Schumacher in 2006.
Chinese Grand Prix: Did You Know?
Michael Schumacher recorded his last race victory at the Shanghai circuit in 2006.
The Chinese Grand Prix was also the venue for the first victory of the Red Bull team (2009) and Nico Rosberg (2012).
Hamilton is the only driver to have taken the fastest lap of the race here more than once, having done so four times (2008, 2010, 2015, 2017).
After their first victory in 2009, the British national anthem was incorrectly played on the podium for Red Bull. Though the team’s base is in Britain, the team itself is registered with the Austrian national racing authority, meaning the Austrian national anthem should have been played.
Mark Webber’s grid position of 18th in 2011 is the furthest back on the grid a podium finish has come from at the Shanghai circuit. He gained 15 places in the race to stand on the final step of the rostrum.
In both 2017 and 2018, Mercedes led the Constructors’ Championship by a single point after the Chinese Grand Prix. In 2006, Renault also led the way by just one point after the Shanghai race.
WEATHER
Friday, April 19 - FP1 & Sprint Shootout
Sunny skies and a moderate breeze are expected for the opening day, with a comfortable maximum temperature of 20 °C and a minimum of 16 °C.
Rain is unlikely to play a role during practice and the Sprint Shootout, with a 0% chance of precipitation while the cars are on track.
Saturday, April 20 - Sprint & Qualifying
While Friday promises sunshine, Saturday may see some cloud cover roll in. There's a chance of light rain showers during the day, with a 46%–57% chance of precipitation during the Sprint session. However, qualifying should remain mostly dry, with a lower 23% chance of rain.
The maximum temperature will reach 23 °C, dropping down to a cool 13 °C at night.
Sunday, April 21 - Race
The good news continues for race day, with a light cloud cover and a gentle breeze promising near-perfect conditions for the drivers.
The highest temperature is predicted to be 21 °C, with a minimum of 13 °C, ensuring a comfortable race for both the drivers and the spectators.
With a 0% chance of rain during the grand prix itself, the stage is set for an exciting and strategic race at the Shanghai International Circuit.
DISCUSS AWAY
PS If there appear to be bits missing that could well be the case. I was saving my work as I went, having had lost whole previews in the past, but got lazy at the end as I was adding bits in to the history and other bits.... when Sods Law struck and we had a power cut. So I lost a lot of my updates. I went through trying to remember the bits but then gave up, tired and fed up (OK Pissed off to the max) so I thought bugger it. It is what it is.
