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Chinese GP 2025 Preview: F1 Race Schedule, Weather Forecast, Track Details, History, & Predictions
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After an exhilarating start to the 2025 season in Melbourne, Formula 1 (F1) zooms to Shanghai for Race 2, the Chinese Grand Prix.
McLaren star Lando Norris claimed the win in Australia, narrowly edging out reigning champion Red Bull racer Max Verstappen. Mercedes’ George Russel came home in third while his rookie teammate claimed the fourth spot. The highly-rated Ferrari pair, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, failed to live up to the billing, finishing eighth and 10th respectively.
Will McLaren extend their dominance or will there be a new challenger this week? us as we cover the nitty gritty of the Chinese GP.
Chinese Grand Prix 2025 Schedule
Chinese GP brings the first Sprint Race of the 2025 F1 season. So, as always, the 20 drivers will only get one practice session to work out the kinks.
Said Free Practice will take place on Friday, 21 March, between 3:30 and 4:30 AM GMT.
Three hours later — at 7:30 AM GMT — F1 pilots will return to the circuit for the 45-minute Sprint Qualifying session.
On Saturday, 22 March, the Sprint Race will begin at 3:00 AM GMT. It should be wrapped up by 4:00 AM GMT. Chinese Grand Prix Qualifying is next on the agenda. The nail-biting event will run from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM GMT.
Finally, the lights go out for the main event on Sunday, 23 March. Unless there are major interruptions, Norris, Verstappen, and Co. will go racing at 7:00 AM GMT.
China GP Weather Forecast
The Australian GP came with unpredictable and challenging weather conditions. Six drivers crashed, there were multiple safety cars, and Ferrari strategists were caught out by the rapid changes in Melbourne. China GP, however, is unlikely to be as challenging for the Drivers and Constructors.
On Friday, we can expect plenty of sun and a steady breeze, with gusts going up to 40kph. The highest and lowest temperatures could be 24 Celsius and 10 Celsius, respectively.
Conditions are likely to carry over to Saturday. The temperature could be 25 Celsius for the Sprint and 24 Celsius during Quali.
Sunday, however, could have trickier conditions, with plenty of cloud cover. There is a 40% chance of rain, but it should not come before the end of the race. The maximum temperature could climb up to 26 Celsius at the start of the race.
China GP F1 Track Details & History
China has one of the most interesting circuits on the F1 calendar. In Sector 1, Turns 1-4 resemble the Chinese symbol of ‘Shang’, Sector 2 starts off with slow T6, but T7, T8, and T9 encourage acceleration. Then comes Sector 3, containing a massive 1.2 km straight. It also has DRS for an added thrill. The chasing car, of course, has to breach the one-second window before T12 to activate DRS. The Speed Trap sits a little ahead of T14.
Just ahead of T16, drivers get the second DRS Detection Zone. If eligible, the pilots will get the boost of DRS as they push the pedal to the metal all through the following straight.
When Was the First Chinese GP?
The first Chinese GP took place in 2004. Rubens Barrichello won the race for Ferrari after starting from pole position.
What is the China GP Track Length?
The 2003-built, $450 million (£347 million) track is 5.451 km long. There are 56 laps, taking the Grand Prix distance to 305.066 km.
The Sprint on Saturday, meanwhile, will last for 19 laps. The total race distance for the Sprint is 103.569 km.
Who Holds the Lap Record?
Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher holds the lap record at the Chinese Grand Prix, having completed it in 1:32.238 in 2004. He, however, only finished 12th in the Grand Prix.
Who Are the Most Successful Drivers in Chinese GP?
Lewis Hamilton has by far been the most successful driver at the Chinese GP, winning it a whopping six times (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019). Fernando Alonso has won it two times (2005 and 2013) while defending Max Verstappen took the chequered flag in 2024.
Who Will Win the 2025 Chinese GP?
McLaren absolutely crushed the competition at the Australian GP, with Lando Norris taking the pole and snatching the win. Max Verstappen can always challenge and the Ferrari boys might fare better this weekend, but, as things stand, McLaren remains the team to beat.
Our prediction for the Chinese Grand Prix: Lando Norris to win for McLaren.