2025 F1 China GP: new high-abrasion track surface, front left tire subject to extreme stress. Shanghai presents a completely resurfaced track for the Chinese GP.

Just a week after the surprising start of the season, Formula 1 returns to the track for the second round of the year at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. This event, back on the calendar last year after a four-year absence, also features the first Sprint race of the championship, meaning teams will head straight into qualifying after just one practice session.

The circuit, built on the outskirts of Shanghai, is technically very challenging, featuring both slow and medium-high-speed corners that require aerodynamic load, as well as two long straights that favor low-downforce setups.

As a result, the setup requires a perfect balance of aerodynamic load to ensure high top speeds on the straights without sacrificing performance in the slower corners. Expected grip levels will be quite low at the start and will improve over the weekend, leading to significant track evolution. However, since the surface has been recently resurfaced, the exact grip threshold remains uncertain.

From a tire management perspective, the Shanghai circuit is extremely demanding on the tires, both laterally—due to the medium-high-speed corners—and longitudinally, because of the sharp accelerations out of slow corners and heavy braking zones. Particularly challenging are the sequence of Turns 1, 2, and 3, Turn 8, and Turns 12 and 13, which place significant strain on the left-side tires.

Pirelli has confirmed last year’s tire selection, providing teams with the C2-C3-C4 compounds, which offer the best balance between performance and durability given the loads and track abrasiveness.

Weather could once again play a key role, as conditions in Shanghai at this time of year tend to be highly variable.

The track’s high abrasion, combined with the intense tire stress, makes wear and degradation a critical factor, especially on the left side. The most vulnerable tire is the front left, as it endures extreme stress in key areas such as the Turn 1-2-3 sequence after the main straight and the Turn 12-13 complex, where drivers need strong acceleration on exit to maximize the long straight.

Rear tires, particularly the left rear, are also at risk due to heavy braking and frequent accelerations out of the slower corners. Tire wear, combined with the unpredictable weather, makes pit stop strategies crucial on a track where overtaking is possible, especially along the long back straight in the third sector.