10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Chinese Grand Prix
Image source: Mercedes AMG PetronasWe were glad for the break last weekend as we caught our breath following a thrilling race in Bahrain. The F1 circus now heads to China for the fourth round of the season. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about the race.
1. False start
Image source: Caterham F1 TeamThe first Chinese Grand Prix was originally scheduled to take place in 1999 at the Zhuhai International Circuit, which was constructed in the mid-90s with Formula 1 in mind.
However, it failed to meet certain FIA standards and was removed from the provisional calendar. The race eventually debuted in 2004, this time at the impressive Shanghai International Circuit.
2. Bumpy ride
Image source: Williams F1 TeamThe 3.39 mile track was built on swampland and took 18 months to construct, at a cost of $450 million. However, due to its location, there has been some subsidence in recent years – particularly around turns one, eight and 14. This has added even more bumps to an already uneven surface.
3. Hamilton and Alonso love Shanghai
Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso are the only multiple winners of the Chinese Grand Prix, with two apiece. The former took victory in 2008 and 2011, with the latter crossing the line first in 2005 and 2013.
Four other drivers on the current grid have also won the race: Kimi Raikkonen (2007), Sebastian Vettel (2009), Jenson Button (2010) and Nico Rosberg (2012).
4. Schumacher’s last win
Image source: FerrariMichael Schumacher is the most successful driver to ever compete in Formula 1. The last of his 91 victories came in China, when he held off Alonso's challenge to finish first in the wet-dry 2006 race.
5. Tricky to master
Image source: Williams F1 TeamThe first corner on the circuit is arguably one of the trickiest on the F1 schedule. It is a long-radius, 270 degree right-hander with a blind second apex. A driver can easily ruin a quick lap here before it's really started.
Another particularly difficult corner is turn 13. The long, gradually opening right-hander is incredibly important as it leads on to the back straight. Narain Karthikeyan got it wrong back in 2005 with spectacular consequences.
6. Schedule switch
Image source: FerrariThe Chinese Grand Prix used to be one of the final rounds on the F1 calendar, meaning it played a role in the result of the world championship. Schumacher’s 2006 win saw him draw level on points with Alonso with just two races remaining.
In 2007, Raikkonen decreased Hamilton’s championship lead with one round remaining, while the Brit’s 2008 victory added two points to his advantage over Felipe Massa ahead of the dramatic finale in Brazil. The race was moved to an early season date from 2009 onwards.
7. Pit lane dramas
Drama at the Chinese Grand Prix doesn't just happen on the track. In fact, the pit lane has been the scene of several surprises. In 2007, Hamilton failed to negotiate the pit entry and beached his McLaren in the gravel, as his hopes of taking the title in his debut season slipped away.
Meanwhile Sergio Perez recreated the Brit’s error last season, crashing at the same place in first practice. Back in 2011, Button embarrassed himself after accidentally visiting the Red Bull pit box before sheepishly moving on to his awaiting McLaren mechanics.
8. Places to pass
Image source: Mercedes AMG PetronasThe Chinese Grand Prix is usually an exciting race, which is partly thanks to there being several good overtaking spots on the circuit. The most popular place is into the slow turn 14 hairpin, which follows the longest straight on the F1 calendar (this is also where the second DRS zone will be, with the first being positioned on the pit straight).
Other potential opportunities are into turn one, turn six – a right-hand hairpin – and turn 11 which makes up a slow left-right chicane.
9. Dwindling popularity
Image source: Caterham F1 TeamThe first Chinese Grand Prix attracted a healthy 260,000 spectators over the race weekend, but since then its popularity has declined with attendance figures dropping to 155,000 in 2010.
10. Rain dance
Image source: Red Bull/Getty ImagesWet weather often makes an appearance over the Chinese Grand Prix weekend, with four of the previous 10 races being affected by rain. Temperatures look set to be cool for the 2014 event, with rainfall expected on Saturday, so we could see a few surprises in qualifying.
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