SUMMARY
- Formula 1 is returning to Shanghai circuit after a gap of five years due to covid.
- Chinese GP will host the first sprint race.
The Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit is scheduled to happen on April 21, 2024. The Chinese circuit will be taking over the F1 race after a gap of four years, from 2020 to 2023, when there was not even a single race held in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The comeback of the Chinese circuit is marked by the first sprint race of 2024.
Sprint races were initially initiated in F1 in 2021 at the Silverspoon circuit. The sport had confirmed the return of the Shanghai track with the first-ever sprint race that would take place on this circuit to mark its comeback to F1 after a significant gap. This circuit proves to be one of the favorites for the Red Bull team and the Ferrari team, as they would like to lock horns in this upcoming race in Shanghai.
The Chinese circuit has 56 laps with a total length of 5.451 km, which includes 14 turns. Michael Schumacher holds the best lap record as of 2004, and the timing stands at 1:32:238. The spring qualification will be on April 19, 2024, and the sprint race will be on the following day, April 20, 2024. The final race is scheduled to happen on April 21, 2024. All the fans and franchises are excited about the return of Sprint to the Chinese circuit.
F1’s sprint race weekend is creating buzz around the Chinese Grand Prix
After the most anticipated return of the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit after nearly 4 years, it adds one more aspect that intensifies spectators’ eyes and awaits attention, as this Grand Prix will be the first sprint race of 2024. This is a huge aspect, as the sprint race signifies a couple of different rules compared to the Grand Prix, and all the fans would be expecting something amazing at this circuit.
The sprint race is a shorter format of the Grand Prix, where the racers would drive a 100-kilometer dash to the finish line with no necessary pit stops, encouraging a non-stop quick race. The race is more dynamic than a strategy-driven plan. In 2023, the sprint race was held in Baku, which lasted for 17 laps with a timing of 33 minutes and was won by Sergio Perez beating Charles Leclerc.
The sprint race winners have always clashed closely with Red Bull and Ferrari. The sprint race signifies a huge potential for scoring extra points for the franchise, as you get rewarded with extra points in the Grand Prix if you come anywhere between first place and eighth place, securing points for the championship tally. It would be interesting to see the Chinese Grand Prix, as Zhou Guanyu of Kick Sauber will get a chance to race in his home country after the much-awaited gap.
Evaluating the sprint shootout qualification’s influence on the Chinese Grand Prix
The upcoming Chinese Grand Prix will be the first to feature a home driver on the circuit after 17 long years of the circuit. This circuit features one of the longest straights in comparison to all the other circuits, but also a twist in it as it has the most prominent overtaking zones of the year. In a recent interview, Carlos Sainz Jr. commented, “I think it’s going to be a tough weekend for everyone.”
The fans’ eyes will be on the home driver, Zhou Guanyu, who will look forward to a positive Grand Prix and would expect to finish high at his home circuit. But he has a set of challenges ahead, as the 2024 Grand Prix season has already seen a lot of roller coasters in the past few weeks. He will take the stage with some of the best racers in the world, like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. It will be a thrilling race to watch out for.
Overall, the Chinese Grand Prix will be a thrill to watch out for, from the track to how the drivers adapt, as this circuit is being used in Formula 1 after a gap of five years. Most importantly, the sprint race is what all the Formula 1 fans around the globe will keep an eye on, and franchises would like to boost their points for the overall championship tally.