Chinese Grand Prix: highlights

2006: Schumacher’s last

It is a certain Fernando Alonso, not yet a world champion at that time, who starts from pole position ahead of his Renault teammate: Giancarlo Fisichella. The race takes place under a downpour. Michael Schumacher starts from a disappointing 6th position on the grid. His teammate Felipe Massa, penalized, starts from 20th position, for a grid that then includes 22 cars.

Renault are being chased, Fernando Alonso, leading the championship, loses ground and gets overtaken by his garage neighbor. Michael Schumacher does the same and starts a superb comeback. First on intermediate tires, then on slick tires on an increasingly dry track. Fisichella pits, switches to slicks, and comes out just ahead of the Ferrari driver. Not enough to hold back the seven-time world champion who overtakes him a few laps later.

He no longer gives up the lead in the Grand Prix and is now tied in the championship with Alonso. It’s the 91st time he crosses the finish line in first place… but also the last. So, his tally remains stuck at 91 victories… a record broken in 2020 by Lewis Hamilton.

2010: Jenson Button tames the elements

This 2010 Chinese Grand Prix is definitely a race full of twists and turns. While Red Bull-Sebastian Vettel is in full domination, it is no surprise that he, accompanied by Mark Webber, finds himself on the front row. Once again, the rain joins the party. Despite a start under nearly dry conditions, the water seriously starts to make the track slippery.

Fernando Alonso makes a superb start! Starting third, he takes the lead in front of the Red Bulls! However, he is penalized for a jump start: first twist. During the first lap, Kamui Kobayashi, Vitantonio Liuzzi, and Sébastien Buemi collide. The safety car is deployed, several drivers take advantage to pit on the first lap. Jenson Button gambles to stay on track and finds himself in 2nd place, just behind Nico Rosberg on the same strategy.

The dry track, the favorites who have stopped are coming back… before the rain invites itself again. On the 20th lap of the race, Fernando Alonso makes his 4th pit stop! One lap earlier, Nico Rosberg makes a mistake on the wet Shanghai track. However, this is not enough for Jenson Button, the reigning world champion, to take the lead of the Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are fired up. They are quickly moving up. But nothing works, Jenson Button manages the conditions perfectly, capitalizing on his superb strategic choice in the first lap and manages to win the race! Lewis Hamilton secures a one-two finish for McLaren, with Nico Rosberg completing the podium.

2012 The return of Mercedes, the firsts of Nico Rosberg

Contrary to the previous Grand Prix mentioned, the suspense was not present during this 2012 edition. Regardless, the result itself is significant. Starting in pole position ahead of his teammate Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg was never challenged.

No rain in the forecast, mild conditions leading to classic strategies. Only 4 laps after the start, Nico Rosberg is leading by over 2 seconds ahead of his teammate. Only Jenson Button leads the Grand Prix for 5 laps and slightly worries Rosberg, with a different strategy. At the last pass of the finish line, Rosberg wins with over 20 seconds ahead! A Grand Prix led with mastery, but above all, a weekend of firsts.

This is the first time he achieves the best lap in qualifying, securing pole position. It is also and above all his first success in F1! He joins his father Keke on the list of Grand Prix winners. He allows Mercedes to win again since the return of the German manufacturer to F1 in 2010. It is the 10th success of the silver arrows in F1, the first since 1955! It is also the first time that Romain Grosjean scores points in F1. He pockets the 8 points of 6th place at the wheel of his Lotus.

2018 Daniel Ricciardo puts on a show!

Daniel Ricciardo’s fans are surely nostalgic for that Red Bull era where the Australian splashed F1 with his talent. On this April 15th, it’s the 2 Ferrari drivers who set the fastest times in qualifying. Sebastian Vettel starts ahead of Kimi Räikkönen. Daniel Ricciardo starts from the 6th position, just behind his young teammate Max Verstappen. At the start, no major changes, Sebastian Vettel remains in the lead.

On the 18th lap of the race, Red Bull makes a superb double pit stop, the first step of Daniel Ricciardo’s crazy race. Valtteri Bottas takes the lead of the Grand Prix after the first pit stops… Then, halfway through the race, there is a collision between the Toro Rosso drivers Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley. Once again, Red Bull handles the situation perfectly and pits both of its drivers, just as the safety car is deployed.

With new tires, Ricciardo makes his first overtake on Kimi Räikkönen on the 37th lap, moving up to 5th place. Max Verstappen, too greedy, attempts the impossible on Lewis Hamilton, who is in 3rd place, and collides with him… Ricciardo takes advantage. The Australian now sets his sights on the podium. He attacks behind the Mercedes driver. With 16 laps to go, he executes a magnificent dive on the inside of turn 14! 2 laps later, he repeats the move on Sebastian Vettel. He overtakes him on the long straight preceding the same turn, leaving no hope for the German. The following lap, Verstappen clashes with the Ferrari driver, forcing his way on the inside, and both drivers end up spinning at the hairpin, losing all hope.

With 10 laps to go, Ricciardo is going to treat us to a move that only he knows how to do. Driven by a killer instinct in this Grand Prix, he miraculously slips inside at turn 6 and takes the lead over Valtteri Bottas! The Finnish driver’s defense in the last few laps was not enough. The Australian is in the lead and will not give up the first position again!

He signs the 6th win of his career, puts on a show on and off the track with his famous shoey!