Chinese Grand Prix

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This article is about the Formula One race. For other uses, see Chinese Grand Prix (disambiguation).

Chinese Grand Prix
Shanghai International Circuit
(2004–present)
Shanghai International Racing Circuit track map.svg
Race information
Number of times held16
First held2004
Most wins (drivers)United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton (6)
Most wins (constructors)Germany Mercedes (6)
Circuit length5.451 km (3.387 mi)
Race length305.066 km (189.559 mi)
Laps56
Last race (2019)
Pole position
Podium
Fastest lap

The Chinese Grand Prix (Chinese: 中国大奖赛; pinyin: Zhōngguó Dàjiǎngsài) is a round of the Formula One World Championship. It is currently held at the Shanghai International Circuit, Jiading, Shanghai, designed by Hermann Tilke. When completed in 2004, it was the most expensive Formula One circuit facility, costing US$240 million.[1] Abu Dhabi became the most expensive at US$6 billion when it opened in 2009.[2] The track is 5.451 km long and features one of the trickiest corners combinations on the Formula One calendar, comparable to that of Istanbul Park's turn 8, also designed by Tilke. Turn 1 and 2 are a very demanding 270-degree, right-handed corner combination that requires considerable speed, in addition to a significant radius increase as the corner progresses.

History[]

The vision of a Chinese Grand Prix started in the early 1990s. The Chinese government had originally planned for an F1 circuit to be located in the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province, southern China. The Zhuhai International Circuit was designed and built and was provisionally added to the 1999 F1 World Championship calendar, but the track failed to meet certain standards set by the FIA.[3] However, the Chinese government did not give up and eventually, with assistance from the organizers of the Macau Grand Prix, held the first ever Formula One race in China in 2004.[1]

In 2002, it was announced that the management of the Shanghai International Circuit had signed a seven-year contract with Formula One Management to host the Chinese Grand Prix starting from the 2004 season until the 2011 season. The Chinese Grand Prix debuted on 26 September 2004, and was won by Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello. The following year, it hosted the final round of the Formula One championship, in which the newly crowned world champion Fernando Alonso won and claimed the constructor's title for Renault. In 2006, the Chinese Grand Prix was won by Michael Schumacher, his last victory in Formula One.

In November 2008 the BBC reported a senior race official, Qiu Weichang, as suggesting that the loss-making race might be cancelled. Following a similar announcement about the French Grand Prix, Qiu Weichang said that the race's future was under consideration, and a decision would be made in 2009.[4]

2010 came and went with no formal announcement of an extension to the initial seven-race deal struck in 2004. However, immediately after the 2010 Shanghai race Bernie Ecclestone, who manages the contracts with the various circuits, said of the 2011 calendar, "We are not dropping anything. [It's] 20 races – getting ready for 25".[5]

It was only in February 2011 that a deal was agreed between F1 and the organisers of the Chinese round of the world championship. Reasons for the delay appear to have been over the fee paid to F1 to host the race. After racking up losses year after year, the organisers of the race refused to pay the fee required, reported to be amongst the highest paid to host an F1 race. F1 bosses appear to have reduced the fee and the new agreement to host an F1 race ran to 2017.[6]

In September 2017, a new three-year contract to host the race was announced, keeping the race on the calendar until 2020.[7][8] In 2019 it hosted the 1000th round of the Formula One World Championship.

The 2020 Chinese Grand Prix was originally scheduled to take place on 19 April but it was postponed and later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] The 2021 edition was postponed and later cancelled in response to the pandemic.[10]

The Chinese Grand Prix was not included into the 2022 calendar due to the pandemic.[11] However, the contract of Chinese Grand Prix was extended by three years, to 2025.[12]

Winners of the Chinese Grand Prix[]

Repeat winners (drivers)[]

Drivers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.

Wins Driver Years won
6 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019
2 Spain Fernando Alonso 2005, 2013
Germany Nico Rosberg 2012, 2016
Source:[13]

Repeat winners (constructors)[]

Teams in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.

Wins Constructor Years won
6 Germany Mercedes 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
4 Italy Ferrari 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013
3 United Kingdom McLaren 2008, 2010, 2011
2 Austria Red Bull 2009, 2018
Source:[13]

Repeat winners (engine manufacturers)[]

Manufacturers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in the current season.

Wins Manufacturer Years won
9 Germany Mercedes 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
4 Italy Ferrari 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013
2 France Renault 2005, 2009
Source:[13]

By year[]

All Chinese Grands Prix have been held at Shanghai International Circuit.[14]

Year Driver Constructor Report
2004 Brazil Rubens Barrichello Ferrari Report
2005 Spain Fernando Alonso Renault Report
2006 Germany Michael Schumacher Ferrari Report
2007 Finland Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari Report
2008 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes Report
2009 Germany Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault Report
2010 United Kingdom Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes Report
2011 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes Report
2012 Germany Nico Rosberg Mercedes Report
2013 Spain Fernando Alonso Ferrari Report
2014 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
2015 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
2016 Germany Nico Rosberg Mercedes Report
2017 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
2018 Australia Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer Report
2019 United Kingdom Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Report
Source:[13]

Support races[]

Formula BMW Asia and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia have both supported the Chinese Grand Prix since 2004. In 2008, the GP2 Asia Series also raced the same weekend. In 2015, the TCR International Series also supported the Chinese Grand Prix.

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Grand Prix Shanghai Set to Go". China.org.cn. 22 October 2002. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  2. ^ "Abu Dhabi – fast-track to future of F1". independent.co.uk. 31 October 2009. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  3. ^ "An introduction to the Chinese Grand Prix". Globalmotorsport. Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2007.
  4. ^ "China considers ditching F1 race". BBC News. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  5. ^ "Bernie Ecclestone reveals F1 extension to 20 races". BBC News. 16 April 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Shanghai extends F1 race for seven years". france24.com. 17 February 2011. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  7. ^ "Formula 1 to race on in China for a further three years". Formula1.com. Formula One World Championship Ltd. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  8. ^ Coch, Mat (29 September 2017). "China extends Formula 1 deal to 2020". Speedcafe.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  9. ^ "2020 F1 Chinese Grand Prix postponed due to novel coronavirus outbreak". formula1.com. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Chinese Grand Prix set to be postponed as F1 bosses revamp 2021 calendar". The Independent. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Formula 1 announces 23-race calendar for 2022". formula1.com. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  12. ^ "F1 extends Chinese Grand Prix contract to 2025". formula1.com. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d "Chinese GP". ChicaneF1. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Shanghai" (in French). StatsF1. Retrieved 3 September 2021.

External links[]

Coordinates: 31°20′20″N 121°13′19″E / 31.339°N 121.222°E / 31.339; 121.222

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