Formula 1 is heading to Shanghai for the second race of the 2025 season, continuing the double-header.
While it’s still early in the championship with 23 races remaining, Lando Norris currently leads the drivers’ standings for the first time this season. His team, McLaren, the reigning constructors’ champions, are tied on points with Mercedes in the constructors’ championship.
Lewis Hamilton boasts the most wins in Shanghai, though Max Verstappen secured his first victory here last year. Historically, pole position often translates to victory in Shanghai for drivers like Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, and Verstappen. Will this trend continue this weekend? McLaren’s last Chinese Grand Prix win was between 2008 and 2011, with Hamilton winning twice and Jenson Button once.
The weather forecast for the weekend predicts warm, stable conditions with plenty of sunshine and temperatures reaching 25°C. Sunday is expected to be warm and cloudy with a low chance of rain.
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Charles Leclerc mentioned that McLaren’s pace was so dominant during the Australian Grand Prix that his engineer never communicated their lap times to him. Meanwhile, Norris stated that McLaren has learned from past errors.
Did Lewis Hamilton experience the full Ferrari experience at the last grand prix? He commented after the race that ‘It went a lot worse than I thought it would go.’
A Thai Grand Prix might be on the horizon. Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has initiated a study to explore hosting a Grand Prix on a street circuit in Bangkok starting from 2028.
In case you missed it, you can catch up on analysis from the season opener in Australia, and delve into the overreactions from the first race.
Listen to the race preview and the latest episode of Unlapped.
Circuit Stats and History
The Shanghai International Circuit, built on marshland and former rice paddies in 2003 with an estimated cost of $450 million, spared no expense. The track’s unique layout from Turns 1 to 4 is inspired by the Chinese symbol ‘Shang,’ meaning ‘above’ or ‘ascend.’ It also features one of the longest straights on the F1 calendar, at 1.2km, and the impressive Shanghai structure has a total capacity of about 200,000 spectators.
Another unique feature is that each team has its own building, instead of the usual motorhomes, designed to resemble the ancient Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai.
- First race: 2004
- Laps: 56 laps of 5.4km. Total race distance 305km
- Lap record: 1:32.238, Michael Schumacher (2004)
- Most wins: Hamilton with six (2008, 2011, 2014-2015, 2017, 2019). From the current grid, Fernando Alonso (2005, 2013) and Verstappen in (2024) have won from pole here.
- Most poles: Hamilton with seven (2008, 2011, 2014-2015, 2017, 2019). From the current grid, Fernando Alonso (2005, 2013) and Verstappen in (2024) have been on pole here.
- What makes it special: The enormous spiraling opening corner and an iconic pit building with two covered bridges over the pit straight.
- What the drivers say about it: ‘When I think of the race in Shanghai, I always remember the impressive towers on the main straight and the cool paddock buildings by the lake. It’s definitely a circuit with a special character and its own personality.’ — Nico Hülkenberg.
Chinese Grand Prix
What Happened Last Year?
Verstappen secured his first Chinese Grand Prix victory in a dominant fashion. He finished 14 seconds ahead of Lando Norris, despite two safety car periods during the race.
Who Will Win?
Considering McLaren’s car performance in Melbourne, they appear to be the favorites again. While Oscar Piastri will be highly motivated, Norris is still the slightly favored driver.
How to Watch the GP
Watch on ESPN and ESPN+ (U.S. only) — view the schedule.
Live broadcast coverage in the U.K. is on Sky Sports F1 and BBC Radio 5 Live.
For news, analysis, and updates, follow the coverage with ESPN’s F1 team Nate Saunders and Laurence Edmondson in Shanghai and on social media.
Friday
Free practice one: 03:30-04:30 GMT
Sprint qualifying: 07:30-08:14 GMT
Saturday
Sprint race: 03:00-04:00 GMT
Qualifying: 07:00-08:00 GMT
Sunday
Race starts: 07:00 GMT.
Standings | Calendar | Teams
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