Circuit info
Shanghai International Circuit
Interesting facts
The layout of the Shanghai International Circuit is shaped to resemble the Chinese character 上 (shang, 'up' or 'above'), a deliberate touch by designer Hermann Tilke, the same character that opens Shanghai's own name. Turns 1 to 3 form a long, tightening spiral that bleeds off speed from well over 300 km/h before opening onto a 1.2 km straight, the longest on the track, leading into the next big braking zone. The site was previously swampy rice-paddy land in Jiading District; the roughly $450 million project was built by about 3,000 workers a day over 18 months. The track opened on 6 June 2004, and Michael Schumacher won the first race for Ferrari, setting a 1:32.238 lap record that stood unbroken for more than two decades, right up until the track was resurfaced ahead of 2025. In 2006, Schumacher scored the 91st and final win of his career here, working his way up from sixth on the grid to beat Fernando Alonso by 3.1 seconds on a track that started wet, dried out mid-race and turned wet again at the end. At the 2007 Chinese Grand Prix, championship leader Lewis Hamilton skidded into the pit-entry gravel trap on worn intermediate tyres, the first retirement of his career, pushing the title fight to the final round in Brazil. The circuit hosted Formula 1's 1000th World Championship race in 2019. You'll find it in Shanghai, China. On the calendar since 2004, this circuit has hosted 19 races, the latest in 2026. Rubens Barrichello took the inaugural win here in 2004. Andrea Kimi Antonelli won here most recently, in 2026. The most successful driver at this circuit is Lewis Hamilton, with 6 wins. Mercedes is the dominant constructor at this circuit, with 7 wins. Michael Schumacher set the fastest lap here, 1:32.238 (Ferrari, 2004). The highest speed measured over a race weekend here was 352 km/h.