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-   -   2024 Chinese Grand Prix - Returning after a 5 year break (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/intl-motorsport/279475-2024-chinese-grand-prix-returning-after-5-year-break.html)

Formula 1 is back to racing in Shanghai China after a 5 year break. It is the first sprint weekend of the year, with Sprint qualifying tomorrow and Sprint Shootout on the Saturday.


Red Bulls expected to be dominant again this weekend - the question who will be best of the rest. Anyone want to hazard a prediction for championship order by the end of the year?



Some stats for the circuit


Vital statistics
First Grand Prix – 2004
Track Length – 5.451km
Lap record – 1m 32.238s, Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004
Most pole positions – Lewis Hamilton (6)
Most wins – Lewis Hamilton (6)
Trivia – The circuit is designed to look like the Chinese symbol for ‘shang’, meaning upwards
Pole run to Turn 1 braking point – 315 metres
Overtakes completed in 2023 – N/A
Safety Car probability – 75%
Virtual Safety Car probability – 50%
Pit stop time loss – 22.9 seconds* (including 2.5s stationary)






Practice start early tomorrow morning India time with Sprint Qualifying mid-day. Any pointers to live screenings near you?





Some references for the information

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...d3NCHTQaQciqCH


https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/2...view/10599449/

Sprint Qualifying Result


- Rain caused a lot of chaos during qualifying, and the freshly laid tarmac made matters worse.

- Drivers struggled to fire up the intermediate tyres in order to get in a proper hot lap.

And apparently the circuit has a tendency to spontaneously combust! Let's hope they fix it before any major accident occurs.

China's F1 Fires Could Be Caused By Sparking Cars Igniting Swamp Gas

Have to say one of the most exciting sprint qualifying have ever seen.

Not since the last few laps in Monaco last year that you saw formula 1 cars slipping and sliding around with drivers having to really feel for the grip levels available .. really exciting last few minutes of qualifying (spoiler alert)..

. George misses out of Q3, both Saubers outqualify the Merc reaching Q3
.. Max just cannot hold it together and just misses out sliding out in the final corner
... Lewis goes to the top .. almost a second clear of the pack with few seconds to go
.... Lando then goes 1 second faster than of Lewis to the top
..... Lando's lap is deleted, Lewis is back on pole...only for...
......Lando's lap to be reinstated just as the checkered flag waves

Its Lando on pole, with Lewis second, with Alonso and Max on second row

.. a very mixed grid for tomorrow, with Faster cars starting from behind...how will the weather play out for tomorrow...if it rains again or does not...

Should make for a very exciting Sprint Race and Qualifying tomorrow....

Sprint Result

- Max overtook Hamilton in the 9th lap to take 1st sprint win of the season.

- Alonso forced Sainz wide and received a penalty, which gave Perez a free overtaking pass.

- Leclerc also finished ahead of his teammate Sainz, but not without banging wheels once.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgKMHFPledI

Qualifying Result

- Max takes the 5th pole of the season.

- Sainz caused a red flag after spinning and going into the barriers on the last kerb.

- Sprint runner-up Hamilton was out in Q1 itself.

https://youtu.be/gO0m9lnirZk?si=BRsENRju5uhj1fy2

That was a great return of F1 in China so far. We had a really good sprint race followed by a good qualifying session.

From the comments on radio it seems Sainz has exhausted Leclerc’s patience for him not having a drive for next season. It seems there will be no more leeway for the team mate any more … after Sainz almost forced Leclerc off the track when the latter tried overtaking him on the outside. The race, it seems, is on between the team mates here onwards…..:Cheering:

Race Result

What an action-filled return it was to the Chinese GP :thumbs up

• Norris finishes P2, claiming redemption after yesterday’s poor sprint race result.

• Alonso saved a major shunt in the last corner, unlike Sainz. A brilliant drive by him.

• Hamilton was very frustrated with the Softs at the start of the race but would be happy to finish in points.

• An emotional moment for Zhou Guanyu after he was allowed to park his car on the main straight and was overwhelmed by the home fans.

• So close yet so far. Alpine continues to struggle to find its first points.

• Stroll ended Ricciardo’s race after going into the back of his car ahead of the safety car restart. I hope he doesn't continue racing next season.

• Drivers faced a lot of under steer due to low grip.

Race Highlights

https://youtu.be/hh4prBn66Dc?si=O4coIeECtZEOPJ_i

Ricciardo hit with three-place grid penalty for Miami weekend after Chinese GP rule breach.


Daniel Ricciardo has been given a three-place grid drop for the upcoming Miami weekend after the stewards deemed he breached the Safety Car regulations during the Chinese Grand Prix.

Source: F1

Apart from the present deserving drivers in F1, there are who are not getting a chance to drive but are loved by many. Like Mick Schumacher.

There are some which are not deserving but still get paid seat, kind of jokers. - Latiffi.

There are some who are there, like, just there. They serve no purpose, seat warmers - Logan.

Then there is one who has a very capable car but doesn't deserve it, is disliked by many, is arrogant and a bad driver at the same time! One who can say "haa, mere baap ki team hai"! Can I pray that someone just kidnap this human contraption!?