The Shanghai International Circuit is an interesting track for both drivers and engineers and a very challenging one to get right. The key is understanding that the emphasis for set-up switches from the rear to the front tyres.

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"I think China is different to most other circuits," says Nico Hülkenberg. "It's front-limited, as there are a lot of long, sweeping corners which give the left front tyre a very hard time. It's a very well known track for graining and I think this will be one of the main themes over this weekend.

Race Capsule:


Sunday 20 April, 2014
Race     15:00

"It's a pretty straightforward track, otherwise. I find turns 11-12-13 the trickiest part: you have to get a good run onto the back straight. The first section is also quite special and unique - you turn in at really high speed and then have to reduce it as the corner goes on. It's like a never-ending corner."

"Shanghai has long straights and hard braking zones," adds team-mate Sergio Perez. It is a bit of difference from the previous races. I wouldn't count it among my favourite tracks, but last year I had a good race and I think this year can be good as well."

Nico's view that tyres will be a critical factor over the weekend is echoed by his race engineer Bradley Joyce.

Circuit Name: Shanghai International Circuit
First Grand Prix: 2004
Number of Laps: 56
Circuit Length: 5.451 km
Race Distance: 305.066 km
Lap Record: 1:32.238 - M Schumacher (2004)

"You need a lot of downforce, but the very long straight requires the set-up to be a good mixture between the two," he says. "The corners have quite a long radius, whereas in Bahrain you're always braking and going quickly back on the power. Here you are turning for a very long time, so there are a lot of yaw and steer characteristics to be taken into account for the aerodynamics side. It's more of an aero circuit than any of the previous circuits we've been to this year.

"The first few corners are very difficult, there's a lot of technicality in that. Being able to get back on the power out of Turns 12-13 for the run onto the straight, especially with the amount of torque these cars have, will also be a key element. Those are the two corners that are most difficult on the tyres as well."

The much lower temperatures that we'll experience in Shanghai will also have an impact on the weekend.

"The weather can be a big factor as it can be cold and foggy, which is normal for Shanghai at this time of the year," says Sergio. "It's easy to lose temperature in the tyres, especially with these cold conditions."

"The cooler air can induce more graining in the tyres," says Nico. "It's something all teams will need to deal with."

Joyce says lower temperatures could also give some respite to teams that might have been struggling a bit for cooling in the earlier races: "It's been quite hot for the power units, so people who have been a bit tight on their cooling packages could be closer to the front - they could be back in their optimum windows."