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The Shanghai International Circuit (), also called the SAIC Shanghai International Circuit () for sponsorship purposes, is a
motorsport Motorsport or motor sport are sporting events, competitions and related activities that primarily involve the use of Car, automobiles, motorcycles, motorboats and Aircraft, powered aircraft. For each of these vehicle types, the more specific term ...
race track A race track (racetrack, racing track or racing circuit) is a facility built for racing of vehicles, athletes, or animals (e.g. horse racing or greyhound racing). A race track also may feature grandstands or concourses. Race tracks are also us ...
, situated in the
Jiading District Jiading is a suburban district of Shanghai. As of the 2020 Chinese census, it had a population of 1,834,258. History Jiading was historically a separate polity from Shanghai until it came under the administration of Shanghai in 1958. In 1993, ...
,
Shanghai Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...
,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
. The circuit is best known as the venue for the annual Chinese Grand Prix which was hosted from 2004 to 2019, and from 2024 onwards. Besides Chinese Grand Prix, the circuit also hosts Shanghai ePrix starting from 2024. The Shanghai International Circuit features over 10 top-tier domestic car racing events annually. It also boasts Shanghai's only world-class outdoor go-karting track. As a nationally recognized 4A-rated tourist attraction, the circuit features tourism, shopping, dining, entertainment, and sports. The track was resurfaced ahead of the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix.


History

Shanghai International Circuit was conceived by the Shanghai authorities as a way to showcase the city to the world. A 5.3 sq km site was chosen in the Jiading District in the north west of the city, close to major car parts manufacturing facilities and a budget of 2.6 billion yuan ($450 million) raised through a government-funded joint-venture company, the Shanghai Jiushi Group. Herman Tilke was chosen to design the track and associated buildings, and between April and May 2003, engineers visited the site to draw up their plans. The site was actually a swampland, previously used as rice paddy fields, and extensive groundworks had to be completed to construct the circuit. For 18 months some 3,000 workers were on site daily to complete the facility – a remarkable feat of both engineering and logistics. When it opened, visitors found a vast complex, dominated by the main grandstand and pit complex, which featured wing-like viewing platforms crossing the circuit at either end. This can hold 30,000 spectators alone, and others around the circuit take the total capacity to 200,000. Paddock facilities were also unique – each of the F1 teams had its own building, arranged like pavilions in a lake to resemble the ancient
Yu Garden Yu Garden or Yuyuan Garden (, Shanghainese ''Yuyoe'' , lit. ''Garden of Happiness'') is an extensive Chinese garden located beside the City God Temple of Shanghai, City God Temple in the northeast of the Old City of Shanghai at Huangpu District, ...
in Shanghai. The Shanghai International Circuit is the first in China to be purpose-built for Formula One and it hosts FIA
Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
World Championship Chinese Grand Prix every year since
2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...
. The circuit also held a number of global high-profile series, including the
FIA World Endurance Championship The FIA World Endurance Championship, abbreviated as WEC, is a world championship for automobile endurance racing organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The se ...
and the GT World Challenge Asia. In the past, the circuit has hosted the
MotoGP Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the highest class of motorcycle road racing events held on Road racing, road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Independent motorcycle racing events have been held sin ...
world championship, and a one-off V8 Supercars China Round of the Australian-based V8 Supercar championship in
2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...
, and also the final round of the A1 Grand Prix in 2006/2007. In 2011, the Shanghai International Circuit signed a sponsorship deal with
Audi Audi AG () is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. A subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group, Audi produces vehicles in nine production facilities worldwide. The origins of the compa ...
and was subsequently named the Shanghai Audi International Circuit and the SAIC International Circuit following a deal with
SAIC Motor SAIC Motor Corp., Ltd. (formerly Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation) is a Chinese State-owned enterprises of China, state-owned automobile manufacturer headquartered in Anting, Shanghai. Founded in 1955, it is currently the largest of the ...
.


Layout

The track layout was inspired from the Chinese character shang (上), the first character in the name of the city
Shanghai Shanghai, Shanghainese: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the ...
, meaning "above" or "ascend". There’s a unique start to the lap as the drivers fly into the ever-tightening Turns 1 and 2, before they dart left through 3 and 4. The super-high g force Turns 7 and 8 are loved by the drivers, while the circuit also features one of the longest straights on the calendar, the stretch that separates turns 13 and 14.


A lap in a Formula One car

The first two bends make a right-hand curve which leads immediately into turns 3 and 4 taken at . One and two are far more difficult – a lift on entry followed by various taps of the throttle and brakes are needed so the car maintains balance throughout. It also becomes blind towards the middle of the corner. Three and four are less complicated, with three being a simple hairpin, but a good exit is needed from four to gain speed down the following straight and through turn 5. The complex of turns 1–4 makes up the first of two "snails" on the circuit, the other being turns 11–13. Turn 6 is a second gear, right-handed hairpin with plentiful run-off. Turns 7 and 8 make up a high speed chicane – the left-right complex sees a constant
G-force The g-force or gravitational force equivalent is a Specific force, mass-specific force (force per unit mass), expressed in Unit of measurement, units of standard gravity (symbol ''g'' or ''g''0, not to be confused with "g", the symbol for ...
of 3 and a minimum speed of about . Turns 9 and 10 immediately follow – two slow left-handers which require a good exit to gain speed down the next straight. Turns 11 and 12 effectively make up a slow left-right chicane where the use of kerbs are important but traction is low. Turn 13 is a very long right-hander which becomes less and less tight, and a very good exit is important as DRS is available down the following straight. At , it is the equivalent to 11 football pitches laid end to end, or the same length as three and a half of the world's biggest aircraft carriers Turn 14 is a hairpin at the end of the straight – the second gear corner is a prime overtaking spot as DRS is available in the run up to the corner. Turn 16 is the last corner – a fourth-gear left-hander which requires a quick tap on the brakes – braking early can be more effective as you can then carry more speed through the corner and then down the pit straight.


Events

; Current * March:
Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...
'' Chinese Grand Prix'',
F1 Academy F1 Academy is a female-only, Formula 4-level Formula racing, single-seater racing championship founded by the Formula One Group. The championship is a One-design racing, spec series, meaning that all teams compete with an identical Tatuus F4-T4 ...
, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, SRO GT Cup * April: TCR Asia Series, TCR China Touring Car Championship, China Touring Car Championship * May: Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, F4 Chinese Championship * June:
Formula E Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is an open-wheel single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. The racing series is the highest class of competition for electrically powered single-seater racing cars ...
'' Shanghai ePrix'' ; Former * A1 Grand Prix (2006–2008) * Asian Le Mans Series ** '' 4 Hours of Shanghai (2014, 2018–2019)'' * Aston Martin Asia Cup (2008–2009) * Audi R8 LMS Cup (2012–2019) *
China Formula Grand Prix China Formula Grand Prix (CFGP) (), formerly known as Asian Geely Formula International Open Competition, is an open wheel formula racing class in China. The car, co-designed by Geely, China's biggest private-owned vehicle producer and racing c ...
(2015–2019) * F3 Asian Championship (2018–2019) * Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific (2011–2019) *
FIA World Endurance Championship The FIA World Endurance Championship, abbreviated as WEC, is a world championship for automobile endurance racing organized by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The se ...
** '' 4 Hours of Shanghai'' (2012–2019) * Formula BMW Pacific (2004–2008) * Formula Masters Series (2011–2017) * Formula Renault AsiaCup (2004–2011, 2013–2018) * Formula V6 Asia (2008) *
Grand Prix motorcycle racing Grand Prix motorcycle racing is the highest class of motorcycle road racing events held on Road racing, road circuits sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Independent motorcycle racing events have been held sin ...
** '' Chinese motorcycle Grand Prix'' (2005–2008) * GP2 Asia Series (2008) *
GT Asia Series The GT Asia Series was a sports car racing series based in Asia. The championship combines Group GT3, FIA GT3 specification cars as the elite class of the series with Ferrari Challenge, Porsche Cup and older GT3 machinery competing in the GTM cl ...
(2014–2017) * GT World Challenge Asia (2017–2019, 2024) * Superrace Championship (2014–2016) *
TCR International Series The TCR International Series was an international Touring car racing, touring car championship. The championship was promoted by World Sporting Consulting (WSC), founded by former World Touring Car Championship manager Marcello Lotti. It was ma ...
(2015) *
Trofeo Maserati The Trofeo Maserati is a single-marque motorsport championship that was started by Maserati Corse in 2003, with the introduction of the Maserati Coupé. Its title is commonly confused as ''Maserati Trofeo'', which in fact refers to the name d ...
(2012–2014) * V8 Supercars ** '' V8 Supercars China Round'' (2005) *
World Touring Car Championship The FIA World Touring Car Championship was an international touring car championship promoted by Eurosport Events and sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). It has had several different incarnations, including a sing ...
** '' FIA WTCC Race of China'' (2012–2016)


Lap records

The total length of the circuit is , which is about average for a Formula One circuit.
Michael Schumacher Michael Schumacher (; born 3 January 1969) is a German former racing driver, who competed in Formula One from to and from to . Schumacher won a record-setting seven Formula One World Drivers' Championship titles, tied by Lewis Hamilton in ...
's official race lap record of 1:32.238 has stood since 2004. In Q3 of the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri qualified on pole position with a time of 1:30.641, a new unofficial track record. As of May 2025, the fastest official race lap records at the Shanghai International Circuit are listed as:


Gallery

File:Shanghai International Circuit 2.jpg, Exterior of main grandstand File:Shanghai International Circuit 4.jpg, Main grandstand File:Shanghai Circuit Main Grandstand o.jpg, View from the main grandstand File:Shanghai International Circuit 5.jpg, Covered grandstand H & K File:Hamilton China 2008.jpg, Grandstand H & K File:Shanghai International Circuit 6.jpg, Pit


References


External links


Shanghai International Circuit at 51gt3.comShanghai International Circuit , JUSSEVENTShanghai International Circuit at Official Formula 1 website
3D views and virtual laps of all F1 circuits, including this one, via Google Earth
Shanghai International Circuit on Google Maps (Current Formula 1 Tracks)
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