16 to 17 April 2010
Resembling the Chinese symbol for “high”, Shanghai’s track layout is a demanding mix of straights, turns and hairpins. Over the 5.4km lap, the Formula 1 drivers will negotiate seven left- and seven right hand turns, the tightest of which being turn one, entered into flat out but exited in second as the corner squeezes tighter and tighter before a left-hander into turn two.

With so many slow and medium speed corners over one lap, the car must have a perfect balance, achieved through an efficient aero package.

Track Map: Click to enlarge

Although dominated by corners, Shanghai also has two long straights (the longest being between turns 13 and 14 which stretches to 1,175m) which will see drivers reach speeds of 327km/h and raise the average lap speed to 205km/h.

The engineers must, therefore, provide a set-up which also offers high top speeds and low drag levels without compromising the cornering stability. Similar to Istanbul Park, the track at Shanghai measures, on average, between 13 and 15 metres in width (20 metres at turn 13) so offers ample room for overtaking manoeuvres and the perfect setting for another riveting round of the Championship.

The weather can also be some what unpredictable with rain common in the area during Grand Prix weekend.

2009 Chinese GP Images

[Show as slideshow]

	Year	Circuit	Date	Driver	Team	Laps
6	2009	Shanghai International Circuit	19 April	1 Sebastian Vettel 2 Mark Webber 3 Jenson Button	Red Bull Red Bull Brawn	56 56 56
5	2008	Shanghai International Circuit	19 October	1 Lewis Hamilton 2 Felipe Massa 3 Kimi Räikkönen	McLaren Ferrari Ferrari	56 56 56
4	2007	Shanghai International Circuit	7 October	1 Kimi Räikkönen 2 Fernando Alonso 3 Felipe Massa	Ferrari McLaren Ferrari	56 56 56
3	2006	Shanghai International Circuit	1 October	1 Michael Schumacher 2 Fernando Alonso 3 Giancarlo Fisichella	Ferrari Renault Renault	56 56 56
2	2005	Shanghai International Circuit	16 October	1 Fernando Alonso 2 Kimi Räikkönen 3 Ralf Schumacher	Renault McLaren Toyota	56 56 56
1	2004	Shanghai International Circuit	26 September	1 Rubens Barrichello 2 Jenson Button 3 Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari BAR McLaren	56 56 56

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