The Shanghai International Circuit has hosted every edition of the Chinese Grand Prix. It’s one of the new generation of circuits, designed by Hermann Tilke and is 5.451 kilometres in length. It features a mix of high-speed and right angle corners, as well as some out and out hairpins, which compel the driver to brake hard, increasing the number of passing opportunities. The hardest compromise to get right is the balance between aero downforce and top speed. Going too far either way can end up with the car struggling to stay on track or being too slow down the straights. Tyre wear is also a key factor here. Scuderia Ferrari won the maiden Chinese race, in 2004, courtesy of Rubens Barrichello, obtaining three further victories, with Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso. Since 2013, when Alonso won for the Maranello team, Mercedes scored four victories (in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), while Daniel Ricciardo took a surprising win for Red Bull-TAG Heuer last season. With a victory for either Charles Leclerc or Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Ferrari will match Mercedes’ record of five wins at Shanghai International Circuit.
Turn 13
Leading onto a straight that’s over a kilometre long, getting through it well is vital to carry speed down the aforementioned straight and to fend off anyone attempting a DRS-enabled attack.
Turn 15 and pit lane entrance
It’s tricky, because it’s a shallow but quick turn and leads on to a section where DRS can be used. The pit lane entrance is another place where it’s easy to make a mistake, which Lewis Hamilton can attest to, after he got stuck in the gravel, which put Raikkonen back in the 2007 title fight.
List of Ferrari wins in China:
| 2004 | BARRICHELLO | F2004 |
| 2006 | SCHUMACHER | 248 F1 |
| 2007 | RAIKKONEN | F2007 |
| 2013 | F. ALONSO | F138 |
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