"Michelin drivers have annexed five of six possible podium positions during the first two Chinese grands prix, and we will be doing our utmost to maintain that proud record this year. With three races to go there is no letting up either at the front or with our other partners who have made excellent progress through the year. We are trying to give
Renault a decisive advantage, but that’s not all. We need to make sure
BMW finishes ahead of
Toyota in the constructors’ championship, and that Raikkonen and Fisichella beat Massa in the drivers’ standings.”
THE TRACK:
Race Distance: 56 laps - Circuit Length: 3.387 miles (5.451 kms)
The Chinese Grand Prix made its debut on the Formula One calendar in 2004 to universal acclaim for its hugely impressive facilities. Designed by Hermann Tilke, the Shanghai International Circuit is built on three square kilometres of reclaimed marshland, and can seat up to 200,000 people.
The 5.451 km track is shaped like the Chinese character 'shang', meaning for 'high' or 'above'. It comprises seven left and seven right turns with several overtaking opportunities, in particular at the multi-apex turn one and again at turn 14 at the end of the back straight.
Average speeds are approximately 200kph, with the cars reaching their maximum speeds down the longest straight in
Formula One, which stretches for over a kilometre in length between turns 13 and 14.
THE WINNER?
After Monza, the momentum remained firmly with
Ferrari, which saw
Michael Schumacher bid farewell to the
tifosi in emotional fashion.
Fernando Alonso's championship lead was crushed to just two points while the Spaniard was left to rue a rare failure, and the lead could actually change hands if the same result occurs this weekend. The only thing to suggest that that may not be the case is Schumacher's poor record in China, while a fired-up
Kimi Raikkonen will be keen to muddy the waters as he seeks his first win of the year - a Ferrari contract for 2007 notwithstanding. Meanwhile, the performance of
Giancarlo Fisichella and
Felipe Massa will again have more bearing on the constructors' standings than that of their team leaders.
LAST SEASON:
Fernando Alonso led from start to finish in a slow-burner of a Chinese Grand Prix, helping to secure the constructors' world title for his Renault team.
