The Formula One grid returns to Shanghai this weekend for the first Chinese Grand Prix in five years and the first Sprint weekend of the 2024 season.
The Shanghai International Circuit had been serving up thrilling races prior to its hiatus, which were caused by COVID-19 complications.
Lewis Hamilton steered home a Mercedes one-two during the last edition in 2019, with plans for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 races all scrapped.
The Silver Arrows would badly wish for something similar again following a horrendous start to the season.
Hamilton and teammate George Russell’s combined points after four rounds are a whopping 40 adrift of leader Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman claimed his third win from the opening four races in Japan to lead his own teammate Sergio Perez in the standings.
F1 officials have chosen China as the venue for the first of its six Sprint events in 2024, a decision questioned by a lot of the drivers due to the lengthy absence and subsequent unfamiliarity with the track.
Chinese Grand Prix: Date and UK start time
The race weekend at Shanghai International Circuit will take place from Friday, April 19 until Sunday, April 21.
Practice One gets things underway at 4:30am UK time on Friday before Sprint qualifying is scheduled to start at 8:30am.
The Sprint Race then takes place at 4am on Saturday ahead of qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix which starts at 8am.
Light’s Out for the Chinese GP is at 8am UK time on Sunday.
F1’s recent race winners in China
2019 – Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2018 – Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull
2017 – Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2016 – Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
2015 – Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
Chinese Grand Prix: TV channel and live stream
The race weekend will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
Coverage of the race is scheduled to begin at 7am UK time on Sunday.
Sky Sports customers can live stream this via the app using their mobile, tablet or computer devices.
You can also purchase a Sky Sports Day Pass from NowTV for £11.98 while Channel Four will broadcast highlights later in the evening.
Fern Buckley will also have updates on the Chinese Grand Prix live on talkSPORT.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Chinese Grand Prix: What has been said?
Championship leader Verstappen has warned it was ‘not the smartest’ decision to hold a Sprint at a track that’s been absent for five years.
“Yeah, it’s very smart to do that,” Verstappen laughed when reminded teams will have one practice session before heading into the Sprint Shootout.
“I think it’s not great, let’s say like that, to do that. Because when you have been away from a track for quite a while, I think you never know what you’re going to experience, right? So it would have been better to have a normal race weekend there.
“But on the other hand, it probably spices things up a bit more, and that’s maybe what they would like to see.
“But yeah, purely from a driving perspective, performance perspective of the sport, I think it’s not the smartest thing to do.
“We’ll see what we get there. I mean, I always loved driving there. So yeah, hopefully, we can hit the ground running as well as we can, and hopefully, we don’t need to fine-tune too many things on the car.”
Chinese Grand Prix: Driver standings
- Max Verstappen, Red Bull – 77
- Sergio Perez, Red Bull – 64
- Charles Leclerc, Ferrari – 59
- Carlos Sainz, Ferrari – 55
- Lando Norris, McLaren – 37
- Oscar Piastri, McLaren – 32
- George Russell, Mercedes – 24
- Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin – 24
- Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes – 10
- Lance Stroll, Aston Martin – 9
- Yuki Tsunoda, RB – 7
- Oliver Bearman, Ferrari – 6
- Nico Hulkenberg, Haas – 3
- Kevin Magnussen, Haas – 1
- Alex Albon, Williams – 0
- Zhou Guanyu, Kick Sauber – 0
- Daniel Ricciardo, RB – 0
- Esteban Ocon, Alpine – 0
- Pierre Gasly, Alpine – 0
- Valtteri Bottas, Kick Sauber – 0
- Logan Sargeant, Williams – 0
News Summary:
- Chinese Grand Prix LIVE: UK start time, schedule and how to follow as F1 returns to Shanghai for first Sprint weekend of 2024
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