The Shanghai circuit is situated in the district of Jiading near Shanghai in the People’s Republic of China. This new state-of-the-art circuit is the joint venture of elite architects, Hermann Tilke and Peter Wahl. One of the most interesting features of this track is how symbolism - an integral facet of the Chinese culture- is so beautifully integrated in the design of the circuit.

Under the vision of Tilke and Wahl, the track was designed to resemble the Chinese character ‘Shang’, which literally means ‘high’ or ‘above’. Their main ideology behind this project was to design the track in a way that it symbolises the perfect harmony between history, nature and technology. The symbolical references to China’s glorious past can be seen in various structures, colours and materials that have been used in the architecture around the track. On the same lines, the arrangement of the team building on the circuit resembles the ancient Yuyan-Garden in Shanghai to signify the possible coexistence of technology and nature. Lastly, the balanced layout of the track itself can be described as a perfect symphony.

The 5.4km-long Shanghai circuit has altogether 17 turns, which include seven lefts and seven rights. Further more, the combination of winding corners and high-speed straights coupled with the varying gradient of the track demand a constantly changing pattern of driving. Hence the F1 drivers have to continuously accelerate, to as high as 327kph on the longest straight line and immediately decelerate, to as low as 87kph on the sharpest corners. This in turn, also provides more opportunities for overtaking manoeuvres. All these diverse elements of the track are thus immaculately blended to provide the drivers with the ultimate motor racing experience. Due to these reasons, the track was an instant hit with all the F1 drivers.

Rubens Barrichello clinched the first Chinese Grand Prix (GP) in his Ferrari at the Shanghai International in 2004. In the same GP, Michael Schumacher took the honours of recording the fastest lap with a remarkable timing of 1:32.238. Schumacher then went on to win the Chinese GP at the same venue in 2006.

The Shanghai International also offers the same intense racing experience to the spectators as enjoyed by the F1 drivers. The Shanghai circuit has an impressive seating capacity of 200,000. The huge grand stand not only seats 29,000 spectators but also offers them, a stunning view of almost 80 per cent of the track. Equipped with the best of facilities, the International Shanghai Circuit offers a spectacular racing experience and hence is by far one of the most exciting circuits to join the F1 calendar.

Recent Results:
2009: Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008: Lewis Hamilton (McLaren Mercedes
2007: Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
2006: Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2005: Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2004: Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari)