Blog: The Chinese Grand Prix is Back
The Formula 1 season is officially underway! The Australian Grand Prix is in the books, with George Russell taking the victory, followed by his teammate Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completing the podium.
But there’s no time to slow down. Formula 1 heads straight to Shanghai this week for the Chinese Grand Prix and it’s not just any race weekend, it’s a sprint weekend. That means teams have only one free practice session before heading straight into Sprint Qualifying. With so little time to collect and analyse new data, every lap on track will count.
Here’s all the data you need to know ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend.
Shanghai International Circuit
Formula 1 returns to China this weekend for the Chinese Grand Prix at the iconic Shanghai International Circuit. First introduced to the calendar in 2004, the 5.451 km circuit has become known for its unique design and exciting racing, with 56 laps making up a total race distance of 305.066 km.
The lap begins with the famous ever-tightening Turns 1 and 2 before drivers flow through a mix of technical corners and heavy braking zones. Highlights include the high-g Turns 7 and 8 and the 1.2 km back straight leading into the tight Turn 14 hairpin, one of the best overtaking spots on the calendar. The layout blends slow, medium and fast corners, creating plenty of opportunities for wheel-to-wheel racing.
With its demanding layout and multiple overtaking zones, the Chinese Grand Prix often delivers strategic and unpredictable racing.
Sprint weekend
Free Practice -> Sprint Qualifying -> Sprint Race -> Qualifying -> Qatar Grand Prix
The Chinese gp weekend is not a regular weekend; it’s a Sprint Weekend, which brings a different format than usual. This means there will only be one Free Practice session (FP1), which will take place on Friday. Teams and drivers will have just one hour to assess how their car performs on the track and fine-tune their setups. After FP1, the Sprint Qualifying session will take place. This session is shorter than a regular qualifying and has different tire rules. For example, in Q1, drivers are required to use specific tire compounds, which adds a layer of strategy. (For further clarification, Sprint Qualifying is typically a single, 30-minute session that determines the grid for the Sprint Race.)
On Saturday, the Sprint Race will take place. The number of laps in a Sprint Race is much fewer than the original Grand Prix. This is typically around 100 km (approximately 30 minutes of racing), so there is usually no need for a pit stop. After the Sprint Race, the drivers will take part in another Qualifying session, this time for the Grand Prix that will take place on Sunday. This qualifying session follows the usual format, with drivers competing for the grid positions for the main event of the weekend.
his compressed format adds excitement and strategy, giving teams and drivers multiple chances to perform while reducing the usual downtime between sessions.
Here are the points that can be scored during a Sprint Race:
- 1st: 8 points
- 2nd: 7 points
- 3rd: 6 points
- 4th: 5 points
- 5th: 4 points
- 6th: 3 points
- 7th: 2 points
- 8th: 1 point
What time does the Chinese Grand Prix start in my time zone?
After an early Grand Prix in Australia, things don’t get much easier for European Formula 1 fans. China is yet another early race. Want to know what time the sessions in China start in your time zone? Check out the Chinese Grand Prix weekend schedule below!
Free Practice 1
- Las Vegas PST: 7:30 PM
- London GMT: 3:30 AM
- Berlin CET: 4:30 AM
- Moscow MSK: 6:30 AM
- Dubai GST: 7:30 AM
- Melbourne AEDT: 2:30 PM
- Tokyo JST: 12:30 PM
- Singapore SGT: 11:30 AM
- New York EST: 10:30 PM
- China CST: 11:30 AM
- India IST: 9:00 AM
Sprint Qualifying
- Las Vegas PST: 11:30 PM
- London GMT: 7:30 AM
- Berlin CET: 8:30 AM
- Moscow MSK: 10:30 AM
- Dubai GST: 11:30 AM
- Melbourne AEDT: 6:30 PM
- Tokyo JST: 4:30 PM
- Singapore SGT: 3:30 PM
- New York EST: 2:30 AM
- China CST: 3:30 PM
- India IST: 1:00 PM
Sprint Race
- Las Vegas PST: 7:00 PM
- London GMT: 3:00 AM
- Berlin CET: 4:00 AM
- Moscow MSK: 6:00 AM
- Dubai GST: 7:00 AM
- Melbourne AEDT: 2:00 PM
- Tokyo JST: 12:00 PM
- Singapore SGT: 11:00 AM
- New York EST: 10:00 PM
- China CST: 11:00 AM
- India IST: 8:30 AM
Qualifying
- Las Vegas PST: 11:00 PM
- London GMT: 7:00 AM
- Berlin CET: 8:00 AM
- Moscow MSK: 10:00 AM
- Dubai GST: 11:00 AM
- Melbourne AEDT: 6:00 PM
- Tokyo JST: 4:00 PM
- Singapore SGT: 3:00 PM
- New York EST: 2:00 AM
- China CST: 3:00 PM
- India IST: 12:30 PM
Chinese Grand Prix
- Las Vegas PST: 11:00 PM
- London GMT: 7:00 AM
- Berlin CET: 8:00 AM
- Moscow MSK: 10:00 AM
- Dubai GST: 11:00 AM
- Melbourne AEDT: 6:00 PM
- Tokyo JST: 4:00 PM
- Singapore SGT: 3:00 PM
- New York EST: 2:00 AM
- China CST: 3:00 PM
- India IST: 12:30 PM
Chinese Grand Prix 2025
Friday was an important day for the drivers because it was time for the first and only practice session of the weekend, and this was only the second weekend of the season, with many drivers still getting used to the car. They only had an hour for this, after which it was straight into the sprint qualifying. It seemed that the McLarens, especially Lando Norris, were going to take pole, but after making a small mistake, Lewis Hamilton managed to set a faster lap in his Ferrari. The seven-time world champion was the fastest in red for the first time.
Saturday was the busiest day of all. Early in the morning, it was time for the sprint race, which consisted of 19 laps. Lewis Hamilton started from pole with his old rival Max Verstappen behind him. However, Hamilton got away well and managed to win the sprint race, marking his very first victory with Ferrari. Oscar Piastri finished second, and Verstappen completed the podium. After the sprint, it was time to qualify for Sunday's race. Once again, the McLarens were fast. This time, Oscar Piastri took pole position, and George Russell split the two McLarens, with Oscar ahead of him and Lando behind.
And on Sunday, these three men started at the front of the grid. It promised to be an exciting race with many overtaking opportunities. But it quickly became clear that strategy would also be very important for the result. George Russell quickly realized that it could very well be a one-stop strategy, but McLaren was also on top of their game when it came to strategy. Both papaya drivers stayed at the front, with Oscar leading the race. In the end, many drivers managed a one-stop strategy, and the Australian won the race! Teammate Lando Norris finished P2 after struggling with brake issues towards the end of the race. George Russell also managed to finish on the podium.
Just when the weekend seemed to be over, things took an unexpected turn. Pierre Gasly and both Ferrari drivers soon came under investigation. A few hours later, Pierre Gasly, Charles Leclerc, and Lewis Hamilton were disqualified. Following post-race inspections at the Chinese Grand Prix, it was found that the rear skid block on Hamilton’s Ferrari did not meet the minimum thickness required by the technical regulations, leading to his disqualification. As a result, both Ferrari drivers lost their results, including Charles Leclerc, who was disqualified for a breach of car weight rules. Additionally, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly were both disqualified after their Ferrari and Alpine cars were found to be underweight during the post-race checks."
Why Attend the Chinese Grand Prix?
Shanghai, one of the world’s most vibrant cities, is an exciting destination for F1 fans. The Pudong district offers fantastic bars and restaurants, while the Shanghai Metro makes it easy to reach the circuit. For the best views, head to Grandstand K at Turns 14-15 for all the overtaking action, or Turn 6, where Daniel Ricciardo made a legendary move in 2018.
With young talents like Kimi Antonelli, Ollie Bearman, Jack Doohan, Liam Lawson, and Isack Hadjar making their Shanghai debut, the race promises plenty of excitement. Plus, the city’s rich 5,000-year history offers a unique cultural experience alongside the racing. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable F1 weekend!
But don't worry if you can't make it this year – you have until 2023 to decide if you want to visit this amazing Grand Prix!
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