Only Verstappen, Hamilton and Alonso have previously won at the Chinese Grand Prix, while Norris is the only other current driver who has finished on the podium at the track. Here’s everything you need to know about each driver’s history at Shanghai International Circuit!
Max VERSTAPPEN
Until 2024, Shanghai International Circuit was one of few circuits on the F1 calendar at which Max Verstappen had not previously won. Verstappen jad scored on four of his five appearances at the Chinese Grand Prix, with a best finish of third in the 2017 event. He took his first win at the track in 2024, on F1’s return to China after a five-year absence.
All of Verstappen’s last four appearances in China have resulted in top five finishes. His first appearance at the track – in 2015, when he retired in the closing stages – remains the only time he has not finished in the top eight here.
Verstappen’s pole position at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix marked the first time he lined up on the front two rows at Shanghai International Circuit. He’s reached Q3 here on four of his six appearances. He exited in Q1 in 2017 and exited in Q2 in 2015.
Of the races that he has finished at the track, Verstappen is yet to finish in a worse position than where he started from.
MAX VERSTAPPEN’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2015 |
WON |
13 |
13 |
DNF |
– |
2016 |
LOST |
9 |
9 |
8 |
1 |
2017 |
LOST |
19 |
16 |
3 |
13 |
2018 |
WON |
5 |
5 |
5 |
0 |
2019 |
WON |
5 |
5 |
4 |
1 |
2024 |
WON |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
Liam LAWSON
Liam Lawson has never previously raced at Shanghai International Circuit.
Lando NORRIS
Lando Norris recorded the first retirement of his Formula 1 career on his first outing at the Chinese Grand Prix in 2019. He completed 50 laps before eventually stopping with damage sustained in a first lap collision. He had qualified in 15th place for the event, failing to out-qualify his team-mate.
Five years later, on F1’s return to the track, Norris enjoyed much more success. After out-qualifying his team-mate and starting fourth, the McLaren driver finished on the podium as runner-up to Max Verstappen.
LANDO NORRIS’ CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2019 |
LOST |
15 |
15 |
DNF |
– |
2024 |
WON |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
Oscar PIASTRI
Oscar Piastri made his first appearance at the Chinese Grand Prix in 2024, having never previously raced at Shanghai International Circuit. Piastri qualified fifth for the Grand Prix – one position behind his team-mate. He finished eighth after picking up damage when hit by fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo during a Safety Car period.
OSCAR PIASTRI’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2024 |
LOST |
5 |
5 |
8 |
-3 |
Lewis HAMILTON
Lewis Hamilton has won the Chinese Grand Prix no fewer than six times so far in his career, and has taken three additional podium finishes. 2007, when his McLaren got beached in the gravel at the pit entry, is the only time that Hamilton has failed to score points at the circuit, while 2024 – when he finished ninth – is the only other time that he has finished outside of the top seven in Shanghai.
Hamilton has reached Q3 on all but two appearances at Shanghai International Circuit. Those were in 2016, when he was left unable to set a lap time in Q1, and in 2024, when he qualified only 18th. Hamilton has taken pole position at the track six times, and has started from the front row on eight occasions.
Of the 13 races that he has finished at the circuit, 2013 is the only occasion that Hamilton has finished in a worse position than where he started from.
LEWIS HAMILTON’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2007 |
WON |
1 |
1 |
DNF |
– |
2008 |
WON |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2009 |
WON |
9 |
9 |
6 |
3 |
2010 |
LOST |
6 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
2011 |
LOST |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2012 |
WON |
2 |
7 |
3 |
4 |
2013 |
WON |
1 |
1 |
3 |
-2 |
2014 |
WON |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2015 |
WON |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2016 |
– |
22 |
22 |
7 |
15 |
2017 |
WON |
1 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2018 |
LOST |
4 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
2019 |
LOST |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2024 |
LOST |
18 |
18 |
9 |
9 |
Charles LECLERC
Charles Leclerc has three previous appearances at the Chinese Grand Prix. After scoring at the event for the first time with a fifth place finish in 2019, he recorded his best result to date at the track in 2024, finishing fourth.
On his first appearance, with Sauber in 2018, Leclerc qualified and finished in 19th place. The Sauber cars were largely uncompetitive over the weekend, with Leclerc out-qualifying team-mate Marcus Ericsson, who lined up last on the grid.
The 2024 Chinese Grand Prix marked the first time Leclerc finished in a better position than where he started in Shanghai, moving up two places from sixth on the grid. His best qualifying result here is fourth, recorded in 2019. His Q1 exit in 2018 is the only time he has not reached Q3.
CHARLES LECLERC’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2018 |
WON |
19 |
19 |
19 |
0 |
2019 |
LOST |
4 |
4 |
5 |
-1 |
2024 |
WON |
6 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
George RUSSELL
George Russell finished 16th on his first Chinese Grand Prix appearance in 2019. He qualified in 17th position for the race, ahead of his Williams team-mate Robert Kubica. Five years later, Russell returned as a Mercedes driver. This time, he qualified eighth and passed both Ferrari drivers on the first lap. He ultimately finished sixth, scoring his first points at Shanghai International Circuit.
GEORGE RUSSELL’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2019 |
WON |
17 |
17 |
16 |
1 |
2024 |
WON |
8 |
8 |
6 |
2 |
Kimi ANTONELLI
This will be Kimi Antonelli’s first appearance at Shanghai International Circuit.
Fernando ALONSO
Fernando Alonso has finished seventh on each of his last two Chinese Grand Prix appearances, in 2018 and 2024, having not scored on any of his three previous appearances at the track.
Alonso has previously won the Chinese Grand Prix twice, in 2005 and 2013, and has three further podium finishes at Shanghai International Circuit, the most recent of which was in 2014. 2017 marked his first, and so far only, retirement at the track.
Alonso took pole position at the Chinese Grand Prix in both of his title-winning years, but has not started from the front row here since 2009. Qualifying third in 2024, Alonso reached Q3 in China for the first time since 2014. 2007 and 2015 are the only seasons in which Alonso has been out-qualified by a team-mate in China, with 2015 being his only Q1 exit at the track.
FERNANDO ALONSO’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2004 |
WON |
6 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
2005 |
WON |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2006 |
WON |
1 |
1 |
2 |
-1 |
2007 |
LOST |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2008 |
WON |
4 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
2009 |
WON |
2 |
2 |
9 |
-7 |
2010 |
WON |
3 |
3 |
4 |
-1 |
2011 |
WON |
5 |
5 |
7 |
-2 |
2012 |
WON |
9 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
2013 |
WON |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2014 |
WON |
5 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
2015 |
LOST |
18 |
18 |
12 |
6 |
2016 |
WON |
12 |
11 |
12 |
-1 |
2017 |
WON |
13 |
13 |
DNF |
– |
2018 |
WON |
13 |
13 |
7 |
6 |
2024 |
WON |
3 |
3 |
7 |
-4 |
Lance STROLL
Lance Stroll is yet to score a point at the Chinese Grand Prix, with a best finish of 12th place in 2019. He has finished on three of his four outings in Shanghai – he failed to finish in 2017. Stroll has qualified in the top ten only once at this circuit, in 2017 when he qualified tenth. He was eliminated in Q1 in both 2018 and 2019 and reached Q2 at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix.
He is yet to out-qualify a team-mate at the track. Stroll gained four places from where he started in both 2018 and 2019, before falling four positions from his starting spot in 2024.
LANCE STROLL’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2017 |
LOST |
10 |
10 |
DNF |
– |
2018 |
LOST |
18 |
18 |
14 |
4 |
2019 |
LOST |
16 |
16 |
12 |
4 |
2024 |
LOST |
11 |
11 |
15 |
-4 |
Pierre GASLY
Pierre Gasly scored points at the Chinese Grand Prix for the first time in 2019 with a sixth place finish for Red Bull. He has a 100% finishing record at the track, having finished 18th with Toro Rosso in the previous season and 13th on the event’s return in 2024. His three Chinese Grand Prix appearances to date have come with three different teams.
Gasly is yet to out-qualify a team-mate at the circuit. He was eliminated in Q1 at the track in 2018 and recorded his best qualifying position here so far with sixth place in 2019. He set the slowest time in Q2 in 2024.
PIERRE GASLY’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2018 |
LOST |
17 |
17 |
18 |
-1 |
2019 |
LOST |
6 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
2024 |
LOST |
15 |
15 |
13 |
2 |
Jack DOOHAN
This will be Jack Doohan’s first appearance at Shanghai International Circuit.
Esteban OCON
Esteban Ocon has scored one point so far at the Chinese Grand Prix, with a tenth place finish in the 2017 event. He has finished just outside the points in 11th on both of his most recent appearances at Shanghai International Circuit in 2018 and 2024.
2024 was the firs time that the Frenchman out-qualified a team-mate at this track. He’s yet to reach Q3 here, with a best qualifying position of 12th in 2018. He was eliminated in Q1 in 2017, before reaching Q2 on each of his last two appearances.
ESTEBAN OCON’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2017 |
LOST |
20 |
17 |
10 |
7 |
2018 |
LOST |
12 |
12 |
11 |
1 |
2024 |
WON |
13 |
13 |
11 |
2 |
Ollie BEARMAN
Ollie Bearman has no previous racing experience at Shanghai International Circuit.
Yuki TSUNODA
Yuki Tsunoda made his first Chinese Grand Prix appearance in 2024, where he retired from the race. In qualifying, he could set no better than the 19th fastest lap time in Q1. From there, he gained places at the start but was forced into retirement after being hit by Kevin Magnussen at a Safety Car restart.
YUKI TSUNODA’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2024 |
LOST |
19 |
19 |
DNF |
– |
Isack HADJAR
This will be Isack Hadjar’s first racing experience at Shanghai International Circuit.
Carlos SAINZ
Carlos Sainz holds a 100% finishing record at the Chinese Grand Prix and has scored on four of his six appearances at Shanghai International Circuit to date. In 2024, Sainz recorded his first top six finish at the track, finishing in fifth place. He had previously scored in three consecutive seasons in China – in 2016, 2017 and 2018 – but never above seventh. Sainz’s worst result to date at the track is 14th place, in 2019.
The Spaniard has reached Q3 on three occasions at the track, in 2016, 2018 and 2024. The latter marked his best qualifying result to date at the track, with seventh place. The 2016 Chinese Grand Prix is the only Shanghai race to date in which Sainz has finished in a worse position than where he started.
CARLOS SAINZ’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2015 |
LOST |
14 |
14 |
13 |
1 |
2016 |
WON |
8 |
8 |
9 |
-1 |
2017 |
LOST |
11 |
11 |
7 |
4 |
2018 |
LOST |
9 |
9 |
9 |
0 |
2019 |
WON |
14 |
14 |
14 |
0 |
2024 |
LOST |
7 |
7 |
5 |
2 |
Alex ALBON
Alex Albon made his first Chinese Grand Prix appearance with Toro Rosso in 2019. He crashed in Free Practice 3, leaving him unable to qualify for the race. After starting from the pit lane, Albon made up ten positions in the race to finish in tenth place.
There were no points for Albon in the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, where he finished in 12th place with Williams – though he was just five seconds away from a points-paying position at the end of the race. He reached Q2, qualifying in 14th place.
ALEX ALBON’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2019 |
– |
20 |
PIT |
10 |
10 |
2024 |
WON |
14 |
14 |
12 |
2 |
Nico HULKENBERG
From ten previous Chinese Grand Prix appearances, Nico Hulkenberg has scored points on four occasions. His best result here is sixth – a position in which he has finished twice, in 2014 and 2018. There have been two occasions on which the German has failed to reach the chequered flag, in 2015 and 2019.
Hulkenberg has qualified in the top ten on all but one of his last eight Chinese Grand Prix appearances. He’s yet to qualify in the top six here, with a best starting spot of seventh in both 2017 and 2018. 2015 is the only time he’s been eliminated in Q1 at the venue.
Hulkenberg is yet to gain more than two positions from where he has started in a race at Shanghai International Circuit and has finished in a worse position than he started in all but one of the last six Chinese Grand Prix weekends – the exception being 2018.
NICO HULKENBERG’S CHINESE GRAND PRIX HISTORY
Quali Battle |
Qualified |
Grid |
Finished |
Pos Change |
|
2010 |
LOST |
16 |
16 |
15 |
1 |
2012 |
LOST |
16 |
16 |
15 |
1 |
2013 |
WON |
10 |
10 |
10 |
0 |
2014 |
WON |
8 |
8 |
6 |
2 |
2015 |
LOST |
16 |
16 |
DNF |
– |
2016 |
LOST |
10 |
13 |
15 |
-2 |
2017 |
WON |
7 |
7 |
12 |
-5 |
2018 |
WON |
7 |
7 |
6 |
1 |
2019 |
LOST |
8 |
8 |
DNF |
– |
2024 |
WON |
9 |
9 |
10 |
-1 |
Gabriel BORTOLETO
This will be Gabriel Bortoleto’s first racing appearance at Shanghai International Circuit.
