Formula 1 heads to Shanghai for the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, marking the second official race weekend of the Formula 1 season from March 21 to 23. The Shanghai International Circuit is poised to welcome fans and participants for this exciting event, featuring the first sprint race of the year.
The season opener at the Australian Grand Prix saw McLaren’s Lando Norris taking the victory, showcasing his dominant performance by finishing 0.895 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen driving for Red Bull Racing. George Russell rounded out the podium, placing third. The race was not without its challenges, as out of 20 drivers, only 14 crossed the finish line amid wet-dry conditions and multiple safety car periods. Rookie drivers faced difficulties, with Isack Hadjar crashing during the formation lap and Jack Doohan, Liam Lawson, and Gabriel Bortoleto retiring later in the race.
Heading to the weekend, car setups and fine-tuning are underway. Lewis Hamilton, who could only manage to finish tenth at the Australian Grand Prix, is expected to make significant tweaks as he adjusts to his new team, Ferrari.
The schedule for the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix weekend includes:
- Practice #1: Friday, March 21 at 11:30 AM local time (CST).
- Sprint Qualifying: Friday, March 21 at 3:30 PM CST.
- Sprint Race: Saturday, March 22 at 11:00 AM CST.
- Grand Prix Qualifying: Saturday, March 22 at 3:00 PM CST.
- Formula 1 Race (Chinese Grand Prix): Sunday, March 23 at 3:00 PM CST.
These times have been adjusted for various time zones, making it accessible for fans worldwide. For those watching from the United States, the race can be streamed live on ESPN and ESPN+, with alternative options through Sling TV and Hulu. UK viewers can tune in via Sky Sports F1 and associated streaming platforms like NowTV.
F1 enthusiasts not located within their home broadcasting regions can utilize VPN services such as ExpressVPN to bypass geo-blocking restrictions. This allows fans to stream the races as if they were back home, regardless of their current location.
Coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix will give fans highlights of each day’s action. Sky Sports will provide extensive coverage, including behind-the-scenes features, especially on their popular TED’s Notebook program airing after qualifying sessions and the race.
Meanwhile, cars from all teams preparing for the Shanghai race must now also comply with tougher rear-wing flexibility tests, introduced following concerns over the levels of bodywork flexing seen during pre-season testing. The FIA has implemented new deflection limits, reducing them to 0.5mm, effective from this weekend's Grand Prix, with only slight tolerances for the opening race. This decision follows thorough assessments during the Melbourne race and aims to maintain fair competition across the grid.
Looking back at the brief history of the Chinese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton remains the most successful driver here, clinching six victories. The event itself debuted at the Shanghai International Circuit back in 2004, and Michael Schumacher holds the lap record from the inaugural year.
This race weekend promises plenty of excitement as drivers strive for supremacy, and fans get the chance to witness high-speed action live. Will Norris continue his winning streak? Can Hamilton recover and clinch another title at this historic track? Fans around the world are eager to find out as the lights go out on March 23.
