Chinese Grand Prix

History

In the early 1990s, the Chinese government began seeking to host an F1 race. After the Zhuhai International Circuit was opened in 1996 in the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province, southern China, a race there was provisionally added to the 1999 F1 World Championship calendar. However, the track failed to meet FIA standard resulting in the race being cancelled.

In 2002, it was announced that the management of the Shanghai International Circuit, with assistance from the organizers of the Macau Grand Prix, had signed a seven-year contract with Formula One Management to host the Chinese Grand Prix from 2004 until 2011. The first Chinese Grand Prix, held on 26 September 2004, was won by Ferrari's Rubens Barrichello. The following year, it hosted the final round of the Formula One championship, in which the newly crowned world champion Fernando Alonso won and claimed the constructor's title for Renault. In 2006, the Chinese Grand Prix was won by Michael Schumacher, his last victory in Formula One.

In November 2008, the BBC reported that a senior race official, Qiu Weichang, had suggested that the money-losing race might be cancelled. Following a similar announcement about the French Grand Prix, Qiu said that the race's future was under consideration, and a decision would be made in 2009.

2010 came and went with no formal announcement of an extension to the initial seven-race deal struck in 2004. However, immediately after the 2010 Shanghai race Bernie Ecclestone, who manages the contracts with the various circuits, said of the 2011 calendar, "We are not dropping anything. [It's] 20 races – getting ready for 25".

It was only in February 2011 that a deal was agreed between F1 and the organisers of the Chinese round of the world championship. Reasons for the delay appear to have been over the fee paid to F1 to host the race. After racking up losses year after year, the organisers of the race refused to pay the fee required, reported to be amongst the highest paid to host an F1 race. F1 bosses appear to have reduced the fee and the new agreement to host an F1 race ran to 2017.

In September 2017, a new three-year contract to host the race was announced, keeping the race on the calendar until 2020. In 2019 it hosted the 1000th round of the Formula One World Championship.

The 2020 Grand Prix, scheduled for 19 April, was postponed and later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Plans for , and races were announced and later cancelled. The Grand Prix returned to the Formula One calendar in 2024.

Winners

Repeat winners (drivers)

Drivers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in 2026.

Repeat winners (constructors)

Teams in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in 2026.

Repeat winners (engine manufacturers)

Manufacturers in bold are competing in the Formula One championship in 2026.

By year

All Chinese Grands Prix have been held at Shanghai International Circuit.

Support races

In 2004, Formula BMW Asia, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and Asian Formula Renault Challenge supported the inaugural Chinese Grand Prix. The latter was not retained in 2005. In 2008, GP2 Asia Series became a support event while Formula BMW Asia was renamed Formula BMW Pacific. 2009 saw Porsche Carrera Cup Asia as the only support event. It remained this way until TCR International Series became a support event in 2015, although this lasted only one year. In 2019, the China Formula Grand Prix and Shell Helix FIA F4 Chinese Championship became support events.

Notes

References

References

1. (23 March 2025). "Hamilton disqualified from Chinese GP after skid block breach as Ferrari suffer double disqualification".
2. (23 March 2025). "2025 Chinese Grand Prix – Final Race Classification". [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]].
3. (2024-12-06). "Formula 1 to race in Shanghai until 2030 with new five-year extension".
4. (22 October 2002). "Grand Prix Shanghai Set to Go". China.org.cn.
5. (31 October 2009). "Abu Dhabi – fast-track to future of F1". independent.co.uk.
6. Grandprix.com. (9 February 1998). "China definite for 1999".
7. (20 December 1998). "Chinese Grand Prix cancelled".
8. (14 November 2008). "China considers ditching F1 race". BBC News.
9. (16 April 2010). "Bernie Ecclestone reveals F1 extension to 20 races". BBC News.
10. (17 February 2011). "Shanghai extends F1 race for seven years". france24.com.
11. (29 September 2017). "Formula 1 to race on in China for a further three years". Formula One World Championship Ltd.
12. Coch, Mat. (29 September 2017). "China extends Formula 1 deal to 2020". [[Speedcafe]].com.
13. (12 February 2020). "2020 F1 Chinese Grand Prix postponed due to novel coronavirus outbreak".
14. "Chinese Grand Prix cancelled over COVID".
15. "F1 2024 calendar revealed: Saturday night Grands Prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia to kick off record 24-race season".
16. "Chinese GP". ChicaneF1.
17. "Shanghai". StatsF1.