Five Things to Know About the Chinese GP

A welcome return to Shanghai awaits Williams Racing for this weekend's Chinese GP after a four-season absence from the sport.

Formula 1 has changed since our last trip in 2019, with new regulations, new drivers, and an ever-growing audience.

So, for some fans, the Chinese GP is like saying hello to an old friend, while others will enjoy the delights of the Shanghai International Circuit for the first time.

Whatever your history, here are five things to look out for on China's return.

China isn't the only thing Formula 1 is saying 'welcome back' to, with F1 Sprint also making its first appearance of the year.

The short-form race is a 100 km dash to the finish line that first appeared in 2021 and is back for its fourth season in the sport.

A revised weekend structure is in place, with Sprint qualifying moving to Friday and a second parc fermé period, but we'll still see wheel-to-wheel racing on Saturday and Sunday.

Check out our 2024 F1 Sprint guide for everything you need to know about the revisions.

While tracks like Monza, Spa-Francorchamps, Monaco, and Silverstone each have around seven decades of F1 history, the Shanghai International Circuit had become a staple in the modern-day sport before its hiatus.

2024 will be the 17th edition of the Chinese GP, putting it 24th in the all-time list - and it'd be in the top 20 if the pandemic hadn't required its suspension.

The 5.451 km track joined the calendar alongside Bahrain in 2004, making it older than the Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and Azerbaijan Grands Prix.

And it's hosted some memorable races in those years, including the 2005 season finale, a championship-altering 2007 race, and an overtaking blitz for the winner in 2018.

China's track layout features two long straights: the pit straight and a 1.170 km back straight between Turns 13 and 14.

With DRS available at both, plus the mixture of corner types over the lap, overtaking is guaranteed at any Chinese GP.

Don't believe us? Check out the 2016 race, where the 22 drivers battled it out through all 56 laps and made an incredible 161 overtakes on each other.

That's a dry-race record that still stands today, even with F1's 2022 aerodynamic regulations designed to improve close racing - could the 2024 Chinese GP be another overtaking bonanza?

This weekend will be Logan's first F1 trip to China as the American and three other drivers get set for their first Shanghai laps.

However, all 20 names that make up the 2024 grid will need to learn the track with the current generation of car and Pirelli's 18-inch tyres.

Our last trip in 2019 still featured flat floor surfaces and 13-inch rubber, so there will be a sizeable difference in grip and performance for 2024.

The Sprint weekend format means there is only one FP1 session to collect the all-important data, too, so every Shanghai second will count.

Alex wasn't wearing Williams overalls on his solitary previous Chinese GP visit, but he will take his learnings from 2019 into 2024.

A point-scoring finish was Albono's well-earned reward after a weekend that didn't go to plan following an FP3 incident ruling him out of qualifying.

Undeterred, Alex kept out of trouble in the opening laps and advanced from his pit lane start to a top-10 spot by the finish in a storming drive in only his third Grand Prix.

With 82 more races of experience under his belt, we can't wait to see what Alex can do with two races around China this weekend.