Formula 1 Chinese GP Preview

Tom Wilkinson's Track Talk – Shanghai International Circuit (Shanghai)

The Facts
Lap – 5.451km
Race Laps: 56
Lap Record: 1:32.238
M. Schumacher (2004)

2012 Winner: Nico Rosberg

Race Date: 14.04.2013

Safety Car – Possible

Weather – Overcast and Dry.

Tyre Allocation – Soft & Medium

The Circuit

The Shanghai International Circuit is a technical and challenging place for F1 cars and drivers. The twists, turns and long straights mean getting the perfect setup is very difficult. It's a demanding track, all 16 corners are tricky to master. Located in the Jiading area of Shanghai, this incredible motorsport venue was constructed on swampland, the work was completed in just 18 months.

In 2004, Formula 1 had its first ever Chinese Grand Prix. The layout of this circuit is shaped like the Chinese character “Shang”, which means “High” or “Above”. Sadly this venue has never been a sell out during the Grand Prix weekends.

The capacity at the circuit is enormous, the main grand stand alone can hold 29,000 people. But there are some people (myself included) who believe that China just doesn't understand F1 in the way other nations like Japan and Singapore do. It's a good track, its usually a good race but it just doesn't get the support sadly.

The long back straight is the best place for overtaking into the turn 14 hairpin, the drivers can make the switch back and try to take back position into the final corner. The flow of this Circuit can make it difficult to overtake, the hairpins provide the best opportunities.

The biggest challenge for the driver is often finding the perfect set up. This is a high speed track, but it has slow, tight and twisty sections where downforce is required. Tyre wear can be a factor here too, Pirelli have brought the soft and medium tyres, meaning 3 stop strategies are likely once again this weekend.

The weather has been a factor in the past, this weekend however we are expecting to be dry and overcast. There have been years where rain has affected the race.

Here is how the race weekend looks for UK Viewers.

Friday 12th
First Practice: 03:00 – 04:30
Second Practice: 07:00 – 08:30

Saturday 13th
Third Practice: 04:00 – 05:00
Qualifying: 07:00

Sunday 14th
Race: 08:00

The Coverage
All sessions will be covered Live on Sky Sports F1 HD and repeated later in the day. The BBC will also have Live coverage throughout the weekend. See your TV guide for programme times.

You can stay up to date with all the Formula 1 news by following me on Twitter @TomWilkinsonF1 #TWF1 where I'll be commentating Live throughout the weekend.

I'll be covering each session live and keeping you right up to date with the very latest.

I'll be reporting right here at Driving For Pleasure on Qualifying and the Race, don't miss out on any of the action.