The Chinese Grand Prix has been an important part of the Formula 1 calendar for two decades and with an exciting layout and overtaking opportunities galore, it is beloved by drivers and fans.
First held in 2004, China has produced many unforgettable F1 moments over the years – including brilliant victories, epic title dramas, and shock collisions.
Let's take a look at just some of the reasons Shanghai is so special.
The Shanghai Sprint
Since it began in 2021, the F1 Sprint weekend has become a fan favourite and few venues deliver it quite like Shanghai.
The Sprint weekend format means more exciting track action, and teams have just one hour to test their set-ups (compared to the usual three). As a result, China provides an increased challenge for drivers – especially so early in the season.
A unique layout with overtaking opportunities galore ensures plenty of drama, while Shanghai itself has expanded into one of the world’s most dynamic and lively cities, making the Chinese Grand Prix weekend an awesome F1 experience.
When is the 2027 Chinese Grand Prix?
Details of the 2027 Formula 1 calendar will be announced in due course.
What happened at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix?
Kimi Antonelli claimed his maiden Formula 1 victory, beating Mercedes team mate George Russell and Lewis Hamilton – who scored his first Grand Prix podium for Ferrari. Check out the RACE HUB to catch up on news, reports and highlights from every session.
Why we love Shanghai International Circuit
The layout’s pleasant form, when seen from the air, is designed to look like the Chinese symbol for ‘shang’, meaning upwards. It's equally pleasing to the racers on terra firma, as there's plenty of overtaking opportunities.
There’s a unique start to the lap as the cars fly into the ever-tightening Turns 1 and 2, before they dart left through 3 and 4 and race down towards Turn 6, a prime spot for overtakes.
The super-high g-force Turns 7 and 8 that follow are loved by the drivers, while the circuit also features one of the longest straights on the calendar, the 1.2km stretch that separates Turns 13 and 14.
The weekend schedule is full of action and there's plenty to look forward to every day, with F1 Free Practice, Qualifying and the Grand Prix – and the Sprint sessions – all supported by other categories. That means even more opportunities to see cars on track.
There’s fantastic live entertainment as performers and music stars continue the party.
During the day there's the stacked F1 Fanzone too, with activities, entertainment, and the chance to see F1 drivers and team representatives live on stage.
Visiting fans have plenty more to check out over the weekend too, including the 'Checkered Flag Carnival' taking place in the city over race week.
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Memorable moments in Shanghai
Shanghai has served up some unforgettable moments throughout the years since first hosting an F1 weekend in 2004.
We couldn’t possibly list them all, but here’s a selection to whet your appetite for more…
2004 – The inaugural Chinese Grand Prix saw Rubens Barrichello claim victory ahead of Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen, while already-crowned champion Michael Schumacher’s impressive run of top-two finishes ended after recovering from the pit lane to P12.
2005 – Fernando Alonso kept his composure after Narain Karthikeyan’s heavy crash to take victory and Renault’s maiden Constructors’ crown in unforgettable fashion.
2006 – Schumacher produced one of the great Shanghai drives to claim his 91st and final victory. Starting from sixth in damp conditions, with title rival Alonso on pole, the German defied the odds to win and draw level on points with only two races remaining.
2007 – McLaren rookie Lewis Hamilton arrived in Shanghai as the favourite to secure the Drivers' title in his first season, but he beached his car in the gravel at pit entry, throwing away crucial points to his rivals. Raikkonen kept his composure to win the race – a crucial step towards the title that year.
2018 – After a Toro Rosso clash brought out the Safety Car, Daniel Ricciardo took the soft tyre gamble to slice through the field and overtake Valtteri Bottas for a memorable victory, celebrating with his classic line: “Sometimes you’ve just got to lick the stamp and send it.”
2019 – F1’s 1000th Grand Prix produced some record results – with Hamilton claiming his 75th victory and Mercedes snagging their third consecutive 1-2 finish.
2024 – China’s first F1 driver, Zhou Guanyu, shared an emotional post-race moment with his home fans on the start/finish straight.
2026 – Kimi Antonelli broke the record to become the youngest Grand Prix polesitter in history, before battling back from a poor start to secure his maiden F1 victory.
How can I watch the Chinese Grand Prix?
Nothing beats being there! Head to F1 Tickets to secure your place and catch all the action in person. F1 Experiences has a great range of premium ticket packages too, getting you closer to Formula 1 than ever before.
For details of the broadcaster in your area, click here.
You can also watch the drama unfold via F1 TV Pro (in selected countries only).
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