HISTORY OF THE CIRCUIT

The Shanghai International Circuit, located in the Jiading District of Shanghai, was purpose-built for Formula 1 racing and has hosted the Chinese Grand Prix since 2004. The circuit's development began in April 2003 on a site that was previously marshland and rice paddies.

The project, designed by Hermann Tilke, cost approximately $450 million and involved 3,000 workers over an 18-month construction period. The track layout is inspired by the Chinese character "上" (shang), meaning "above" or "ascend," and includes a variety of challenging turns and one of the longest straights in F1 at 1.2 km.

The circuit features a main grandstand that can accommodate 30,000 spectators, with a total capacity of 200,000. The paddock area is uniquely designed to resemble the ancient Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, with pavilion-style buildings for each F1 team.

Since its opening, the Shanghai International Circuit has hosted a range of major motorsport events besides Formula 1, including the FIA World Endurance Championship and MotoGP. It has played a significant role in promoting motorsport in China and contributing to the local economy and tourism.

In 2019, the circuit hosted Formula 1's 1000th Grand Prix, a significant milestone in the sport's history. After a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese Grand Prix returned to the F1 calendar in 2024.

The winners of the F1 Grand Prix races held in China

2004: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)
2005: Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2006: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2007: Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari)
2008: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)
2009: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2010: Jenson Button (McLaren-Mercedes)
2011: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren-Mercedes)
2012: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2013: Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2014: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2015: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2016: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)
2017: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2018: Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing)
2019: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
2024: Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)