From the old to the new, the
Formula One world championship swaps the claustrophobic confines of the historic Monza
autodrome for the wide-open high-tech spaces of the Shanghai International Circuit as it begins the long-distance climax to the season.
One of Hermann Tilke's latest creations, along with Bahrain and Turkey, the SIC features some trademark elements, including a long straight and tight following corner, and picks up on local 'tradition' to add a little extra flavour. While the country has yet to foster a grand prix driver of its own - although a few may be on the way up the ladder - its Formula One following continues to grow, and the impressive architecture that is another feature of Tilke's recent work should reverberate to the eager chatter of crowds as well as the roar of engines this weekend.
The fans once again have something to look forward to as, after last season's constructors' championship showdown between Renault and
McLaren, Shanghai plays host to the closing stages of an increasingly fascinating battle in both competitions. Although far from the finale that the 2005 race presented, the circuit could have a definite bearing on the destination of the two crowns, with
Michael Schumacher having closed in on
Fernando Alonso in the drivers' standings and Ferrari having finally taken the lead in the teams' competition.
Intriguingly, however, Schumacher has never gone well in China, while Alonso demonstrated all the hallmarks of a champion as he dominated last year's closer to ensure a second title for
Renault. The German, of course, is also beginning a 'farewell tour' that will culminate in Brazil next month, but don't expect Alonso to show any leniency to the 'old master', especially in light of recent rulings.
FIA F1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS:
Happenings off-track at Monza had as much impact on the weekend's headlines as the Italian Grand Prix itself, with Schumacher finally confirming his retirement after what seemed years of speculation, and Alonso declaring that
F1 was no longer a 'sport' to him after being penalised five places in qualifying for an alleged blocking offence.
Although few agreed with the stewards' ruling that the Spaniard had obstructed
Ferrari's
Felipe Massa in the timed session, Alonso's determination to limit the damage the ensuing penalty could cause may have impacted negatively on his championship chances, as the R26 suffered a rare mechanical failure, leaving him scoreless while Schumacher's win closed the gap between them to just two points.
