13 - 15 March 2026
CHINESE GRAND PRIX ROUND 2
Shanghai International Circuit
- FP1Fri 13 Mar03:3004:30
- Sprint QualiFri 13 Mar07:3008:15
- SprintSat 14 Mar03:0004:00
- QualifyingSat 14 Mar07:0008:00
- RaceSun 15 Mar07:0009:00
SECTORS
TURNS
FIRST GP
2004
LAPS
56
CIRCUIT LENGTH
5.451
DISTANCE
305.066
A marvel to behold
The colossal Shanghai International Circuit is Formula 1 supersized: a huge paddock, towering grandstands, and straights that disappear over the horizon: the circuit has never lost its wow factor.
Built on marshland in 2003, the track sits on more than 40,000 stabilising concrete pillars, and its infrastructure is bigger and bolder than at any other circuit on the Formula 1 calendar. Its absence from the calendar between 2020 and 2023, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, was keenly felt.
Located around 40km from the centre of one of the world’s most populous cities, the Shanghai International Circuit is packed full of interesting features. The long pit straight and the even longer back straight dominate the first and final sectors and, with slow corners before and after, ensure the Chinese Grand Prix is never short of overtaking opportunities. However, the race isn’t a simple, low-drag slipstreaming exercise.
The two ‘snail’ sections – corner complexes that go beyond 180 degrees – and a tight hairpin put a premium on good traction and, combined with the high-speed turns of the middle sector, demand some concessions to downforce. There are also several heavy braking zones. While not a problem for the brakes themselves, the unevenness of the braking zones (a legacy of building on marshland) tends to push a car’s damping to the limit and force driver errors. The tarmac is also very abrasive with the life of tyres – particularly the softest compounds – sometimes measured in corners rather than laps.
We have four Chinese Grand Prix victories to our name. After several near misses, Lewis Hamilton claimed our first victory at the Shanghai International Circuit in the penultimate race of 2008 on his way to his first F1 World Championship. Jenson Button followed this up with our second win in a wet/dry race in 2010, and Hamilton won the race again in 2011. In 2025, Oscar raced to victory with Lando Norris following behind him to take McLaren's 50th 1-2.
Time for a Shanghai showdown 🇨🇳
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Inspired by the Chinese character Shang, meaning “above” or “ascend”, the Shanghai International Circuit’s layout is dominated by long straights and tight, low-speed corners. These provide plenty of overtaking opportunities, most notably during and at the end of the 1.2km straight between Turns 13 and 14, one of F1’s longest stretches of full-throttle road.
The track's first corner is among F1’s most famous and has been sorely missed over the past few seasons. The seemingly never-ending 270-degree turn gives drivers a wide berth to begin with, before tightening as it wraps around into Turns 2 and 3, allowing for side-by-sides and making it an excellent overtaking opportunity.
The heavy braking zone at Turn 6 also provides a great chance to make a move ahead of two extremely high G-force corners, Turns 7 and 8. Another overtaking opportunity then presents itself during the heavy braking zone for Turn 11.
Weather conditions can also play a big role in the race's outcome. It’s difficult to know what to expect from one moment to the next: the forecast can change daily, and conditions can vary massively each day, making it very difficult to plan for.
Stuck for conversation with your F1-loving friends? Spark up a discussion with our F1 icebreaker…
The Shanghai International Circuit is among the biggest in Formula 1 and has a unique layout, with many of the facilities built on stilts over a lake. The paddock was designed to pay homage to the country’s rich heritage and resembles Shanghai’s famous and historic Yu Garden, which was built in the 16th century during the Ming Dynasty.
Looking back on 2025
