 Grand Prix Circuit (2004–present) | |
| Location | Jiading,Shanghai,China |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 31°20′20″N121°13′11″E / 31.33889°N 121.21972°E /31.33889; 121.21972 |
| Capacity | 200,000 |
| FIA Grade | 1 (Grand Prix) 2 (International) 3E (West Long)[1] |
| Owner |
|
| Operator | Shanghai International Circuit Co., Ltd. |
| Broke ground | April 2003; 22 years ago (2003-04) |
| Opened | 6 June 2004; 21 years ago (2004-06-06) |
| Construction cost | ¥2.6 billion ($450 million, €370 million) |
| Architect | Hermann Tilke |
| Major events | Current: Formula One Chinese Grand Prix (2004–2019, 2024–present) Formula E Shanghai ePrix (2024–present) Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (2004–2019, 2021, 2023–present) TCR Asia Series (2016–2019, 2021, 2025) Future: GT World Challenge Asia (2017–2019, 2024, 2026) Former: FIA WEC 4 Hours of Shanghai (2012–2019) Grand Prix motorcycle racing Chinese motorcycle Grand Prix (2005–2008) WTCCRace of China (2012–2016) Asian Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Shanghai (2014, 2018–2019) A1 Grand Prix (2006–2008) V8 SupercarsChina round (2005) |
| Website | shang-sai.com |
| Grand Prix Circuit (2004–present) | |
| Length | 5.451 km (3.387 mi) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Race lap record | 1:32.238 ( Michael Schumacher,Ferrari F2004,2004,F1) |
| Motorcycle Grand Prix Circuit (2004–present) | |
| Length | 5.281 km (3.281 mi) |
| Turns | 16 |
| Race lap record | 1:59.273 ( Valentino Rossi,Yamaha YZR-M1,2008,MotoGP) |
| Intermediate Circuit (2004–present) | |
| Length | 4.603 km (2.860 mi) |
| Turns | 14 |
| Race lap record | 1:35.177 ( Robert Wickens,Lola B05/52,2008,A1GP) |
| West Long Circuit (2012–present) | |
| Length | 3.051 km (1.896 mi) |
| Turns | 12 |
| Race lap record | 1:10.564 ( Nick Cassidy,Porsche 99X Electric,2025,F-E) |
TheShanghai International Circuit (simplified Chinese:上海国际赛车场;traditional Chinese:上海國際賽車場;pinyin:Shànghǎi Guójì Sàichēchǎng), also called theSAIC Shanghai International Circuit (simplified Chinese:上海上汽国际赛车场;traditional Chinese:上海上汽國際賽車場;pinyin:Shànghǎi Shàngqì Guójì Sàichēchǎng) for sponsorship purposes, is amotorsportrace track, situated in theJiading District,Shanghai,China. The circuit is best known as the venue for the annualChinese Grand Prix which was hosted from 2004 to 2019, and from 2024 onwards. Besides Chinese Grand Prix, the circuit also hostsShanghai ePrix starting from 2024.
The Shanghai International Circuit features over 10 top-tier domestic car racing events annually. It also boasts Shanghai's only world-class outdoor go-karting track.
As a nationally recognized 4A-rated tourist attraction, the circuit features tourism, shopping, dining, entertainment, and sports.[2]
The track was resurfaced ahead of the2025 Chinese Grand Prix.[3]
Shanghai International Circuit was conceived by the Shanghai authorities as a way to showcase the city to the world. A 5.3 sq km site was chosen in the Jiading District in the north west of the city, close to major car parts manufacturing facilities and a budget of 2.6 billion yuan ($450 million) raised through a government-funded joint-venture company, theShanghai Jiushi Group.
Herman Tilke was chosen to design the track and associated buildings, and between April and May 2003, engineers visited the site to draw up their plans. The site was actually a swampland, previously used as rice paddy fields, and extensive groundworks had to be completed to construct the circuit. For 18 months some 3,000 workers were on site daily to complete the facility – a remarkable feat of both engineering and logistics.
When it opened, visitors found a vast complex, dominated by the main grandstand and pit complex, which featured wing-like viewing platforms crossing the circuit at either end. This can hold 30,000 spectators alone, and others around the circuit take the total capacity to 200,000. Paddock facilities were also unique – each of the F1 teams had its own building, arranged like pavilions in a lake to resemble the ancientYu Garden in Shanghai.[4]
The Shanghai International Circuit is the first in China to be purpose-built for Formula One and it hosts FIAFormula One World ChampionshipChinese Grand Prix every year since2004.[5] The circuit also held a number of global high-profile series, including theFIA World Endurance Championship and theGT World Challenge Asia.
In the past, the circuit has hosted theMotoGP world championship, and a one-offV8 Supercars China Round of the Australian-basedV8 Supercar championship in2005, and also the final round of theA1 Grand Prix in2006/2007.
In 2011, the Shanghai International Circuit signed a sponsorship deal withAudi and was subsequently named theShanghai Audi International Circuit and theSAIC International Circuit following a deal withSAIC Motor.
.jpg)
The track layout was inspired from the Chinese character "shang" (上), the first character in the name of the cityShanghai, meaning "above" or "ascend".[6]
There’s a unique start to the lap as the drivers fly into the ever-tightening Turns 1 and 2, before they dart left through 3 and 4. The super-high g force Turns 7 and 8 are loved by the drivers, while the circuit also features one of the longest straights on the calendar, the 1.2 km (0.7 mi) stretch that separates turns 13 and 14.[7]
The first two bends make a 185 km/h (115 mph) right-hand curve which leads immediately into turns 3 and 4 taken at 105 km/h (65 mph). One and two are far more difficult – a lift on entry followed by various taps of the throttle and brakes are needed so the car maintains balance throughout. It also becomes blind towards the middle of the corner.[8] Three and four are less complicated, with three being a simple hairpin, but a good exit is needed from four to gain speed down the following straight and through turn 5. The complex of turns 1–4 makes up the first of two "snails" on the circuit, the other being turns 11–13.[9] Turn 6 is a second gear, right-handed hairpin with plentiful run-off. Turns 7 and 8 make up a high speed chicane – the left-right complex sees a constantG-force of 3[8] and a minimum speed of about 160 km/h (99 mph). Turns 9 and 10 immediately follow – two slow left-handers which require a good exit to gain speed down the next straight. Turns 11 and 12 effectively make up a slow left-right chicane where the use of kerbs are important but traction is low. Turn 13 is a very long right-hander which becomes less and less tight, and a very good exit is important asDRS is available down the following straight. At 1.170 km (0.727 mi), it is the equivalent to 11 football pitches laid end to end, or the same length as three and a half of the world's biggest aircraft carriers[10] Turn 14 is a hairpin at the end of the straight – the second gear corner is a prime overtaking spot asDRS is available in the run up to the corner. Turn 16 is the last corner – a fourth-gear[8] left-hander which requires a quick tap on the brakes – braking early can be more effective as you can then carry more speed through the corner and then down the pit straight.
The total length of the circuit is 5.451 km (3.387 mi), which is about average for a Formula One circuit.Michael Schumacher's official race lap record of 1:32.238 has stood since 2004. In Q3 of the2025 Chinese Grand Prix,Oscar Piastri qualified on pole position with a time of 1:30.641, a new unofficial track record.[11] As of May 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Shanghai International Circuit are listed as:[12]
Links to related articles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
