[Race] 2014 Formula 1 UBS Chinese Grand Prix.

[321Go]

Race Preview
Formula 1 UBS Chinese Grand Prix
18 - 20 April 2014

Following a thrilling Bahrain Grand Prix and last week’s test at the Sakhir circuit, what is fast proving to be a fascinating 2014 FIA Formula One Championship resumes this weekend with round four, the Chinese Grand Prix.

The Shanghai International Circuit, located in the Jiading district of one of China’s most vibrant cities, presents a markedly different set of challenges to those offered up in Bahrain. Gone is the high heat and the point and squirt nature of the BIC’s layout. Instead, Shanghai offers up cooler climes, two long straights and a tough mix of slow, medium and high-speed corners, all of which test a team’s ability to find a good balance for their cars.

It is a layout that in the past has also given tyres a good workout too – particularly rear tyres. That issue is likely to be exacerbated by the torque available from the new power units and the reduced aerodynamic grip available under this year’s regulations.

Tyre manufacturer Pirelli is, however, bringing its Medium and Soft compounds to Shanghai and it will be interesting to see what effect this combination has on race strategies.

The race in Bahrain was again dominated by the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Rosberg might have lost out in the pair’s exciting battle to the flag but the German still leads the Drivers’ World Championship and will be undoubtedly seeking revenge, and a repeat of his maiden F1 win here in China in 2012. Hamilton, meanwhile will be looking for a first-ever hat-trick of wins.

In the teams’ battle, Mercedes lead the way from Force India, whose excellent results from the past two races have catapulted them into previously unknown territory. They’ll surely be looking to stage a Shanghai surprise this weekend to widen the gap between them and third-placed McLaren to more than the single point that currently separates the Mercedes-powered outfits.




SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT

Length of lap: 5.451km
Lap record: 1:32.238
(Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004)
Start line/finish line offset: 0.190km
Total number of race laps: 56
Total race distance: 305.066km
Pitlane speed limits: 80km/h in practice, qualifying and the race


CIRCUIT NOTES
• Other than routine maintenance no changes have been made to the circuit since 2013.

DRS ZONES
• The DRS sectors at the Shanghai International Circuit will be as last year. The detection point of the first zone is at Turn 12 and the activation point is 752m before Turn 14. The second zone’s detection point is 35m before Turn 16, with activation occurring 98m after Turn 16.


Chinese GP Fast Facts

• This will be the 11th running of the Chinese Grand Prix, the race having joined the Formula One calendar in 2004.

• The first five editions of the race took place towards the end of the campaign, with the 2005 race being the season-ending event. At that race, Renault wrapped up its first constructors’ championship title as a manufacturer thanks to Fernando Alonso’s win and Giancarlo Fisichella’s fourth place. The race moved to the front end of the season in 2009 in an April slot that has become now traditional for the event.

• The winner of the inaugural race was Rubens Barrichello, who took his ninth career victory in Shanghai for Ferrari. It would be the Brazilian’s last win for five years. Barrichello’s 10th win came when driving for Brawn GP at the 2009 European Grand Prix in Valencia, some 1793 days after his Chinese GP win.

• Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton are the only multiple winners here. Alonso won the 2005 race for Renault and last year’s event for Ferrari. Both of Hamilton’s wins to date have been for McLaren, in 2008 and 2011.

• The other winners here are: Michael Schumacher in 2006; Kimi Räikkönen in 2007; Sebastian Vettel In 2009; Jenson Button in 2010 and Nico Rosberg in 2012. Vettel’s win here was his first for Red Bull Racing, while Rosberg’s was, of course, his maiden GP victory.

• Rosberg’s 2012 victory was Mercedes’ first grand prix win as a manufacturer since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix when Juan Manuel Fangio took victory ahead of Piero Taruffi, also driving for the three-pointed star.

• Ferrari are the most successful constructors at this race, with four victories (Barrichello ’04, Schumacher ’06, Räikkönen ’07 and Alonso ’13). McLaren are the Italian squad’s closest rivals, with three wins (Hamilton ’08 and ’11 and Button ’10). Renault, Red Bull Racing and Mercedes have one win each.

• Five of the 10 events held so far have been won from pole position – in 2004, ’05, ’08, ’09 and 2012. Michael Schumacher’s 2006 win was from the furthest back on the grid so far. The Ferrari driver started sixth.

• The pole position man has only failed to finish on the podium twice in the 10 runnings to date. Sebastian Vettel finished sixth in 2010 and in 2007 Lewis Hamilton famously crashed out at the pit lane entrance.

• None of this year’s rookies have any experience of the Shanghai International Circuit. However, when Marcus Ericsson takes to the track on Friday he won’t be the first Swede to turn laps here. Back in 2004, Björn Wirdheim was a test driver for Jaguar Racing. The racer from the town of Växjö, took part in both Friday sessions for the team, recording the 12th fastest lap in the morning session and the 17th best time in the afternoon, three seconds down on fastest man Anthony Davidson, who was testing for BAR-Honda.

[F J Nedos]

Let's hope Mr Ricciardo can take away more than sweet and sour memories from this Chinese GP!

[wolfhound]

Do we really need DRS at this circuit?
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Sorry some cars need help keeping up with those pesky Mercs

[stripedcat]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Do we really need DRS at this circuit?
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Sorry some cars need help keeping up with those pesky Mercs

Two words : "dirty air". That's what DRS is used as a sticking plaster to overcome. You're probably right that places with big straights don't really need it.


I wonder if this time around it'll be Rosberg who wins for Mercedes.

[wdave0]

Is there an error in the speed exiting turn 13? 250k the same as halfway down the straight - 150 seems more reasonable.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by wolfhound

Do we really need DRS at this circuit?
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Sorry some cars need help keeping up with those pesky Mercs

DRS can only be activated if you are within a second of the car in front.

[321Go]

Originally Posted by stripedcat

Two words : "dirty air". That's what DRS is used as a sticking plaster to overcome.

Talking of dirty air, just look at the conditions we have for FP1!
Hope everyone's got a gas mask on. The air pollution in China is just a disgrace.


On another note, Mercedes will debut the front wing the car was supposed to be launched with. It has failed the crash tests until now, but finally passed and will be on the cars this weekend. Is said to be about a second faster.

[321Go]

FP1 done. Marco Mattiacci leading the way.



FP1 review via formula1.com.
I guess Alonso got the Mattiacci spec car, while Raikkonen got the Domenicali spec.

[321Go]

Originally Posted by wdave0

Is there an error in the speed exiting turn 13? 250k the same as halfway down the straight - 150 seems more reasonable.

You are correct. Should be about 150Km/h. Good to see someone looking at the track map with a eagle eye.

[wolfhound]

Have the drivers forgotten they now have an 8th gear. If there was anywhere to use it this must surely be the place.

[kurski]

Mika Salo should have been this weekend's Shanghai F1 race FIA steward, but he refused, said finnish MTV F1 commentator Oskari Saari, when he drives ELMS - Silverstone

[wolfhound]

The Mercedes powered cars seemed slow in practice this morning have they the wick turned down or are the others getting faster?

[Knowlesy]

Maldonado having a 'mare again. Got distracted by his own steering wheel at one point.

[321Go]

FP2 results. Hamilton on top.



FP2 review via formula1.com.

[Tucky]

Does anyone know if/what updates ferrari brought?

[JamesH]

Originally Posted by 321Go

Talking of dirty air, just look at the conditions we have for FP1!
Hope everyone's got a gas mask on. The air pollution in China is just a disgrace.


On another note, Mercedes will debut the front wing the car was supposed to be launched with. It has failed the crash tests until now, but finally passed and will be on the cars this weekend. Is said to be about a second faster.

A second faster? Thank god its arrived - they need that extra second...

[Bononi]

Wow, I really miss frostie's intros.

Having said that, the rest is just awful.

[TheNo1F1Fan]

Looks like Alonso is having a big chance...

[321Go]

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

Maldonado having a 'mare again. Got distracted by his own steering wheel at one point.

Maldonado says it wasn't his fault. The wall came out of nowhere and hit him.

Originally Posted by JamesH

A second faster? Thank god its arrived - they need that extra second...

Indeed. Icing on the cake.

It must have been something very good for Mercedes to have persisted with it. Failed crash test pre launch. Failed pre Australian GP. Failed pre Malaysia. Failed pre Bahrain. Finally passing the last crash test pre China. Reports suggest it is apparently good for almost a second on tracks with long straights, like China. Huge advantage if true.

Although, so far the Merc's not showing that sort of form. But I suspect troubles in other areas and not related to the new front wing/nose design.

[321Go]

Originally Posted by Bononi

Wow, I really miss frostie's intros.

Having said that, the rest is just awful.

I agree.

Apologies.

I'll leave the race intro's up to frostie, or your good self.

Again, sorry people. The forum moderator has spoken.

[garcon]

Maldonado. Outwitted by his own steering wheel. He really is special isn't he.

[wdave0]

Originally Posted by 321Go

Maldonado says it wasn't his fault. The wall came out of nowhere and hit him.
Indeed. Icing on the cake.

Although, so far the Merc's not showing that sort of form. But I suspect troubles in other areas and not related to the new front wing/nose design.

The engines are so finely tuned they won't run on smog!

[Razzzor]

Originally Posted by 321Go

I agree.

Apologies.

I'll leave the race intro's up to frostie, or your good self.

Again, sorry people. The forum moderator has spoken.

Your fine 321, at least your putting something up. Not everyone has time to write what Frostie does, and to be honest... I often don't have time to read those long intros, I just read the interesting bits about the few teams.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Ty for the intro; always good to have something up there.

The Chinese GP, not one of my favourites along with Bahrain and yet that produced a cracker. Maybe China can produce the same.

[Lancsbreaker]

Originally Posted by Bononi

Wow, I really miss frostie's intros.

Having said that, the rest is just awful.

I'm not entirely certain what you meant by this.....but it strikes me as singularly graceless and uncalled for.