Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix: 7 October 2007
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Circuit: Shanghai International Circuit
Track length: 5.451 km
Laps: 56
Race distance: 305.070 km
Lap record: 1:32.238 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004)
Shanghai is the penultimate stop for this season and part of the last back-to-back header after the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji. The circuit is one of several on the calendar that were designed by Herman Tilke, and it is not one of the more popular creations.
The circuit is characterised by a mixture of long, sweeping turns, slow corners and a few straights. The approaches to turns 14, 11 and 6 represent the best overtaking opportunities on the circuit. The number of left and right turns is almost equal on this clockwise-running track, which also boasts a banking at turn 13. A high-downforce configuration is the norm, though a few cars may run less wing to give an advantage in top speed on the 1.2 km run to turn 14.
The racing here is not particularly exciting as it places far more technical emphasis on the cars than the drivers. However rain has featured during the race before, as seen in last season's event. Michael Schumacher took his final victory in conditions not very dissimilar to what we saw last weekend at Fuji. 3 different drivers have won the 3 Chinese Grand Prix that have taken place: Schumacher, Rubens Barrichello and Fernando Alonso.
This time around, Alonso will need a heroic feat to keep his championship hopes alive. His crash in Japan has left him 12 points behind championship leader and McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton, and he will need to outscore the latter by 2 points. Ferrari's remaining contender Kimi Räikkönen is a further 5 points adrift and will need a bigger miracle to stay in the hunt.
The 2 leading teams are expected to be close - and fast - on pace once again, as various parts of the track play to the strengths of their cars. The midfield will likely be a tight contest between BMW-Sauber, Renault and the Williams of Nico Rosberg, with the likes of Toyota and Red Bull as close outsiders.
Will Lewis Hamilton become the first rookie world champion and the youngest in Formula 1 history, or will his rivals be able to take the fight down to the wire? Stay tuned on Sunday afternoon! -
Schumacher to bid farewell to Toyota
Ralf Schumacher is to leave Toyota at the end of the season, he confirmed on Monday. Speaking in Shanghai, where he is preparing for his penultimate race with the Japanese team, Schumacher said he has decided to look for a new challenge.
Schumacher joined Toyota from Williams for the 2005 season, but has since enjoyed limited success, with three podiums his best results for the team. In a statement on his official website, the German admitted it had been an interesting, if somewhat frustrating three years.
"I joined Toyota with high expectations,” he said. “On the one hand, I regarded it as a major and exciting challenge to be involved in the development of a new racing car. On the other hand, I also learned to like the Japanese style of living, during my long stay in Japan before entering Formula One. And I still get on well with the Japanese mentality. But I am waiting for years for a competitive car."
He added: "Toyota also was a nice and interesting experience - particularly the cooperation with the team, engineers and mechanics. Still, itÂ’s time now to look for a new challenge."
Concerning his future plans, Schumacher commented: “I'm going to have several conversations in the coming weeks. I will announce my decision when the season is over. For me, the financial aspect is far less important than the chance of being involved in the development of a car and being successful afterwards."
Schumacher, a six-time Grand Prix winner with Williams, has scored five points this season, his best result a sixth place in Hungary. -
Hamilton is currently under investigation for precipitating the accident between Vettel and Webber at the Japanese Grand Prix. It could mean another 10-place penalty.
FP1: Kimi draws first blood. Alonso, Massa, Hamilton and Rosberg are the next quickest, in that order. Massa had a spin at Turn 1, while Hamilton also took a brief trip off the road on his last lap. Raikkonen and Alonso ran wide on to the run-off at the final corner on their first flying laps of the morning.
Heidfeld came to a halt on track after developing a gearbox oil leak with 35 minutes to go, but was returned to the pits in time to rejoin for a final run and take 10th. Rosberg used the softer tyres to set his time. Williams test driver Kazuki Nakajima replaced Alexander Wurz for the session.
Pos Driver Team Time
1. Raikkonen Ferrari 1:37.024
2. Alonso McLaren-Mercedes 1:37.108
3. Massa Ferrari 1:37.128
4. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:37.210
5. Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:37.707
6. Kubica BMW Sauber 1:38.055
7. Trulli Toyota 1:38.208
8. Fisichella Renault 1:38.217
9. Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:38.270
10. Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:38.445
11. Kovalainen Renault 1:38.551
12. Schumacher Toyota 1:38.661
13. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 1:38.700
14. Button Honda 1:38.942
15. Barrichello Honda 1:38.945
16. Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:39.238
17. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:39.497
18. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:39.535
19. Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 1:39.539
20. Vettel Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:39.898
21. Yamamoto Spyker-Ferrari 1:40.126
22. Sutil Spyker-Ferrari 1:40.149 -
Rain is predicted for Sunday's race, according to Autosport's weather forecast. The rest of the weekend should be cloudy.
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after seeing this track, i guess singapore f1 track is not too bad although singapore's one need to cross bridge, meet opposing cars.
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They won't meet anycars running in the opposite direction, the entire road will be closed.Originally posted by HyuugaNeji:after seeing this track, i guess singapore f1 track is not too bad although singapore's one need to cross bridge, meet opposing cars. -
More problems for Heidfeld, this time he was sidelined by faulty hydraulics. Kovaleinen also lost track time through a fuel pressure problem.
Chinese GP free practice session 2 times
1. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m36.607s
2. ALONSO McLaren 1m36.613s
3. MASSA Ferrari 1m36.630s
4. HAMILTON McLaren 1m36.876s
5. TRULLI Toyota 1m37.151s
6. WEBBER Red Bull 1m37.450s
7. SCHUMACHER Toyota 1m37.524s
8. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m37.617s
9. ROSBERG Williams 1m37.646s
10. FISICHELLA Renault 1m37.970s
11. KOVALAINEN Renault 1m38.062s
12. BUTTON Honda 1m38.205s
13. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m38.304s
14. KUBICA BMW 1m38.379s
15. HEIDFELD BMW 1m38.388s
16. WURZ Williams 1m38.531s
17. DAVIDSON Super Aguri 1m38.975s
18. LIUZZI Toro Rosso 1m39.065s
19. SUTIL Spyker 1m39.224s
20. SATO Super Aguri 1m39.360s
21. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m39.404s
22. YAMAMOTO Spyker 1m40.051s -
Hamilton will not receive any punishment, and Vettel's penalty has been reduced to a reprimand.
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Chinese GP grid
1. HAMILTON McLaren
2. RAIKKONEN Ferrari
3. MASSA Ferrari
4. ALONSO McLaren
5. COULTHARD Red Bull
6. SCHUMACHER Toyota
7. WEBBER Red Bull
8. HEIDFELD BMW
9. KUBICA BMW
10. BUTTON Honda
11. LIUZZI Toro Rosso
12. TRULLI Toyota
13. KOVALAINEN Renault
14. DAVIDSON Super Aguri
15. ROSBERG Williams
16. BARRICHELLO Honda
17. VETTEL Toro Rosso *
18. FISICHELLA Renault
19. WURZ Williams
20. SATO Super Aguri
21. SUTIL Spyker
22. YAMAMOTO Spyker
* 5-place penalty for impeding other cars -
The grid has been revised. Anyway, these are the times from the morning's final practice session:
Chinese Grand Prix free practice session three times
1. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m36.100s
2. ALONSO McLaren 1m36.126s
3. HAMILTON McLaren 1m36.227s
4. MASSA Ferrari 1m36.405s
5. SCHUMACHER Toyota 1m36.959s
6. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m36.964s
7. KUBICA BMW 1m37.024s
8. KOVALAINEN Renault 1m37.106s
9. HEIDFELD BMW 1m37.176s
10. WEBBER Red Bull 1m37.315s
11. ROSBERG Williams 1m37.323s
12. LIUZZI Toro Rosso 1m37.463s
13. BUTTON Honda 1m37.564s
14. TRULLI Toyota 1m37.679s
15. DAVIDSON Super Aguri 1m37.732s
16. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m37.759s
17. FISICHELLA Renault 1m37.791s
18. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m37.920s
19. WURZ Williams 1m37.926s
20. SATO Super Aguri 1m38.577s
21. SUTIL Spyker 1m38.868s
22. YAMAMOTO Spyker 1m39.517s -
alonso must really be fuming all these while. Fancy a 2 times champions losing to a very young rookie and first black f1 driver on the same car!
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there may be a bloody typhoon tomorrow
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RAIN OH RAIN OH!
Bet some of them will be pitting at the end of the parade lap. -
Oh, and this weekend Ferrari are displaying Malboro sponsorship labels.
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Ralfie spins after his great qualifying
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of all the places, Hamilton is stuck in the gravel trap of the pits!!
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ZOMG HAMILTON IS OUT OF THE RACE!
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it's 7 laps to go and Raikkonen's tyres are so worn the white line is gone!
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oh.. the commentators have said that he's put on different types of tyres
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Vettel made it in on vapours!
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No, I saw the remnants of the white line on them before they were worn off.
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Chinese Grand Prix result - 56 laps
1. RAIKKONEN Ferrari
2. ALONSO McLaren +9.8s
3. MASSA Ferrari +12.8s
4. VETTEL Toro Rosso +53.5s
5. BUTTON Honda +1m08.6s
6. LIUZZI Toro Rosso +1m13.6s
7. HEIDFELD BMW +1m14.2s
8. COULTHARD Red Bull +1m20.7s
9. KOVALAINEN Renault +1m21.1s
10. WEBBER Red Bull +1m24.6s
11. FISICHELLA Renault +1m26.6s
12. WURZ Williams +1 lap
13. TRULLI Toyota +1 lap
14. SATO Super Aguri +1 lap
15. BARRICHELLO Honda +1 lap
16. ROSBERG Williams +2 laps
17. YAMAMOTO Spyker +3 laps
R. KUBICA BMW +23 laps
R. HAMILTON McLaren +26 laps
R. SCHUMACHER Toyota +31 laps
R. SUTIL Spyker +32 laps
R. DAVIDSON Super Aguri +45 laps -
i think it is too late for kimi to win the championship.
he might win the last race and still lose it.
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I am hoping Alonso or Kimi to win it, but deep in my heart, i know Lewis has one hand on the title.
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i hope kimi wins
