Chinese GP: A New Date on the Calendar for More Excitement?

The Shanghai circuit, designed by architect Hermann Tilke, is a modern track that presents a particularly interesting challenge for teams and drivers. With little elevation change, this circuit offers a great variety of turns, tight hairpins, very fast corners, and extremely demanding sections. Like most modern tracks, the layout is very wide and doesn’t make finding the ideal racing line easy. The facilities are exceptional and provide teams with the best possible conditions to prepare for the race weekend.

Aerodynamics

Shanghai features both long straights and fast corners, forcing the team to very precisely assess the level of downforce needed to protect its position on the straight without compromising the car’s grip in corners. Turns 7 and 8 are very fast and lead to left-hand turns 9 and 10.

Fernando Alonso explains: « You can really feel the power of the car in turns 7 and 8. We take these turns in 6th gear and there is a lot of grip. Upon exiting turn 8, we arrive at the straight line before entering turn 9 where precision is key. Turn 9 is taken in 3rd gear and we re-accelerate to the maximum on exit to take turn 10 flat out. If this section of the track is well managed, you can achieve a good lap time. »

Suspensions

From a mechanical standpoint, it will be important to find an effective compromise to give drivers full confidence in their car’s behavior. Shanghai features many heavy braking zones followed by strong accelerations, as well as several fast corners. Given the significant number of direction changes, it’s crucial to have a very responsive car. This is why teams will tend to choose stiffer dampers at the front than at the rear. This compromise will ensure good stability during braking and acceleration. It’s essential here since the driver will often have to brake and accelerate simultaneously, especially in turns 1, 2, and 8.

Tires

The Shanghai circuit is tough on tires. The front tires are heavily stressed in turns 1 (front left), 2 (front right), and 8 (front left), but the numerous slow corners are also very challenging for the rear tires during acceleration. The first corner is particularly demanding on the tires as it tightens, as Fernando Alonso explains: « You have to brake a lot in the corner while keeping the car on the edge and gradually lose speed to turn. The balance must be quite neutral because oversteer would make things difficult in this first part of the circuit, and you can lose time. »

Turn 13 deserves special attention. A significant load on the front tires in this 270° turn. The rear tires undergo significant lateral and longitudinal loads during re-acceleration.

Just like in Melbourne, Bridgestone will supply super-soft and medium slick tires to Shanghai.

Engine

The Shanghai circuit is not a particularly demanding test for the engine. In fact, only 55% of the lap is at full throttle. However, it is important to be at full power on the long straight approaching turn 14. This part of the circuit offers a good overtaking opportunity, especially for cars equipped with KERS.

Nelson Piquet explains: « Turn 14 is undoubtedly the best place to overtake. You exit the long Turn 13 which can be taken flat out before attacking the longest straight on the circuit where you easily reach over 300km/h. It can be difficult to follow a car closely in Turn 13 but the KERS should make things easier. Braking at Turn 14 is tricky and you have to be careful not to lock the wheels which could ruin the lap and cost a position. »

According to a statement from the Renault F1 Team