Shanghai Showdown: First F1 Sprint of 2025 Unleashed

2025 Shanghai GP: Full Weekend Schedule and Key Timings

18/03/2025

F1 returns to China for an electrifying Sprint weekend, with McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari set to battle on Shanghai’s iconic track.

The Formula 1 season is heating up, and the action shifts to Shanghai this weekend for the Chinese Grand Prix 2025—the second round of the season. But this isn’t just any race weekend; it’s also the first Sprint event of the year, adding an extra layer of excitement.

After a successful return to the calendar in 2024, the Shanghai International Circuit is back once again, promising intense battles on one of F1’s most unique tracks.

Sprint Weekend Format: What to Expect

F1 has stuck with the same Sprint format as last season, which means:
Friday: Free Practice 1 (FP1) followed by Sprint Qualifying in the afternoon.
Saturday: The Sprint race takes place in the morning, setting the stage for Grand Prix Qualifying in the afternoon.
Sunday: The Main Race—where championship points are on the line.

One key rule remains: Parc Fermé regulations still limit modifications between Sprint Qualifying and the Sprint Race, but teams can adjust setups after the Sprint before regular Qualifying. This gives engineers more flexibility while keeping things competitive.

Shanghai International Circuit: Key Corners to Watch

Shanghai’s track is known for its technical complexity, long straights, and tight corners that push both drivers and cars to their limits. Here are some key spots to keep an eye on:

Turn 1: A long, tightening right-hander that flows into Turn 2. Drivers must manage understeer while braking for nearly three seconds—a challenge, especially on worn tires.

Turn 7: A high-speed left-hander taken in seventh or eighth gear, where lateral G-forces can reach 4G. Precision is everything here.

Turn 9: A tough braking zone following a series of fast corners. Getting a clean exit is crucial, as it leads into the straight toward Turn 10.

Turn 13: A tricky banked corner that launches cars onto the circuit’s 1.3 km back straight—one of the longest in F1. Top speed can exceed 320 km/h, with drivers at full throttle for nearly 20 seconds.

Turn 14: The hairpin at the end of the straight. Drivers slam the brakes, dropping from 320 km/h to just 60 km/h, making this a prime overtaking spot.

Who Are the Favorites?

After McLaren’s dominant performance in Australia—both in dry and wet conditions—they come in as the team to beat in Shanghai. But competition is fierce:

Red Bull & Max Verstappen will be right there, though teammate Liam Lawson is still struggling with the RB21’s handling.

Mercedes looks strong and could challenge for the podium, while Ferrari needs to bounce back after an underwhelming Melbourne performance.

Williams & Racing Bulls showed promise last time out, but all eyes will be on Haas, who finished dead last in Australia and desperately need a turnaround.

With just one practice session before qualifying, teams must nail their setups quickly—making this a high-stakes weekend where strategy could be the difference.

Chinese Grand Prix 2025 Schedule (Shanghai Time

DateSessionTime (Shanghai Time)
Friday, April 18Free Practice 1 (FP1)4:30 AM
Sprint Qualifying8:30 AM
Saturday, April 19Sprint Race4:00 AM
Grand Prix Qualifying8:00 AM
Sunday, April 20Main Race8:00 AM

Set your alarms early—Shanghai time means a morning race for many fans around the world.

Who’s your pick for the win? Let us know!

Full List of Chinese Grand Prix Winners

YearCircuitWinnerTeamEngine
2024ShanghaiMax VerstappenRed BullHonda RBPT
2019ShanghaiLewis HamiltonMercedesMercedes
2018ShanghaiDaniel RicciardoRed BullRenault
2017ShanghaiLewis HamiltonMercedesMercedes
2016ShanghaiNico RosbergMercedesMercedes
2015ShanghaiLewis HamiltonMercedesMercedes
2014ShanghaiLewis HamiltonMercedesMercedes
2013ShanghaiFernando AlonsoFerrariFerrari
2012ShanghaiNico RosbergMercedesMercedes
2011ShanghaiLewis HamiltonMcLarenMercedes
2010ShanghaiJenson ButtonMcLarenMercedes
2009ShanghaiSebastian VettelRed BullRenault
2008ShanghaiLewis HamiltonMcLarenMercedes
2007ShanghaiKimi RäikkönenFerrariFerrari
2006ShanghaiMichael SchumacherFerrariFerrari
2005ShanghaiFernando AlonsoRenaultRenault
2004ShanghaiRubens BarrichelloFerrariFerrari
High-Speed Drama: F1’s First Sprint Weekend Hits Shanghai

Shanghai Showdown: First F1 Sprint of 2025 Unleashed Shanghai Showdown: First F1 Sprint of 2025 Unleashed

Race Center
China Flag
Chinese GP
21 Mar 2025 - 23 Mar 2025
Free Practice 1
21 MAR 03:30 - 04:30
Sprint Qual
21 MAR 07:30 - 08:14
Sprint Race
22 MAR 03:00 - 04:00
Qualifying
22 MAR 07:00 - 08:00
Race
23 MAR 07:00 - 09:00

2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix - Race Results

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
57
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
+0.895s
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
+8.481s
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
+12.773s
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
+15.135s
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
+17.413s
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
+18.423s
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
+19.826s
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
+20.448s
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
+22.473s
Pierre Gasly
11
PIERRE
GASLY
+26.502s
Yuki Tsunoda
12
YUKI
TSUNODA
+29.884s
Esteban Ocon
13
ESTEBAN
OCON
+33.161s
Oliver Bearman
14
OLIVER
BEARMAN
+40.351s
Liam Lawson
15
LIAM
LAWSON
47 DNF
Gabriel Bortoleto
16
GABRIEL
BORTOLETO
47 DNF
Fernando Alonso
17
FERNANDO
ALONSO
34 DNF
Carlos Sainz
18
CARLOS
SAINZ
0 DNF
Jack Doohan
19
JACK
DOOHAN
0 DNF
Isack Hadjar
20
ISACK
HADJAR
0 DNF
F1 CALENDAR 2025
Race
Date
Chinese Flag
Chinese
Shanghai International
23 Mar
Japanese Flag
Japanese
Suzuka Circuit
6 Apr
Bahrain Flag
Bahrain
Sakhir desert
13 Apr
Saudi Arabia Flag
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street
20 Apr
United States Flag
United States
Miami
04 May

2025 FORMULA 1 DRIVERS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Lando Norris
1
LANDO
NORRIS
25 Points
Max Verstappen
2
MAX
VERSTAPPEN
18
George Russell
3
GEORGE
RUSSELL
15
Alex Albon
4
ALEX
ALBON
12
Kimi Antonelli
5
KIMI
ANTONELLI
10
Lance Stroll
6
LANCE
STROLL
8
Nico Hulkenberg
7
NICO
HULKENBERG
6
Charles Leclerc
8
CHARLES
LECLERC
4
Oscar Piastri
9
OSCAR
PIASTRI
2
Lewis Hamilton
10
LEWIS
HAMILTON
1

2025 FORMULA 1 CONSTRUCTORS' WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

1
McLaren
27
2
Mercedes
25
3
Red Bull
18
4
Williams
12
5
Aston Martin
8
6
Sauber
6
7
Ferrari
5
8
Alpine F1
0
9
Haas F1
0
10
Racing Bulls
0
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