Bridgestone tyres have won two of the three previous Chinese grands prix, including last season, when Michael Schumacher scored his 91st and final victory. A two-stop pit strategy has been the favoured option in the past, as running with a heavy car required for a one-stop strategy is likely to be very detrimental to lap times and cause heavier wear to the tyres.
“Shanghai International Circuit is very severe on tyres and that is why we are bringing the two hardest compounds from our range," director of motorsport tyre development Hirohide Hamashima, "There are very high lateral forces acting on the tyres and we expect to see graining on the front left tyres, especially caused by the increasing radius turn two and the banked turn thirteen. We could also see graining on the rear tyres here too.
"The circuit layout means that a medium downforce set-up will be used, as there are two long straights, but a large percentage of the track is also very twisty and technical. For the teams and drivers, finding the correct set-up to make the best use of their tyres will be a big challenge.”
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?
As has been the case for much of the season, it is hard to look beyond the four main players for this weekend's winner. While
Felipe Massa's hopes of success may be compromised by the fact that Ferrari team-mate
Kimi Raikkonen remains in mathematical title contention, the two
McLaren drivers appear set to slug it out. Fernando Alonso has more to lose in the event of a mistake, but also needs to beat team-mate
Lewis Hamilton by at least two points. That effectively means that the Spaniard needs to win the race or, if Ferrari is - as expected - the better team in Shanghai, ensure that he finishes second to Raikkonen or Massa. Anything less than that and the world champion faces losing his crown one race before the end of the year.
LAST SEASON:
After two races without so much as a sniff of the points at the Shanghai International Circuit, Michael Schumacher finally found the fortune he was looking for as he won a race that really should have belonged to
Renault.
Having been restricted to the outside of row three when rain in qualifying played into the hands of his Michelin-shod opponents, the German was able to turn the tables on race day, taking advantage of tyre-related dramas for main title rival Fernando Alonso to draw level at the head of the standings.
Alonso, aggrieved at the treatment he felt he was receiving from his team (sound familiar?) finished second, with Renault team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella dutifully completing podium. A good afternoon for Honda again reflected Jenson Button's wet weather ability, the Briton fending off the best of the McLarens, driven by Pedro de la Rosa, for fourth, while there were points for team-mate
Rubens Barrichello,
BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld and
Williams'
Mark Webber.
1.
Michael Schumacher Germany
Ferrari-Ferrari 56
01:37:32.747
2.
Fernando Alonso Spain
Renault-Renault +3.1
3.
Giancarlo Fisichella Italy
Renault-Renault +44.1
4.
Jenson Button Britain
Honda-Honda +72.0
5.
Pedro de la Rosa Spain
McLaren-Mercedes +77.1
6.
Rubens Barrichello Brazil
Honda-Honda +79.1
7.
Nick Heidfeld Germany
BMW Sauber +91.9
8.
Mark Webber Australia
Williams-Cosworth +103.5
