The Official 2018 Chinese Grand Prix Thread **SPOILERS**

[Dr Z]

Date(s): Friday 13 April - Sunday 15 April 2018

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1 with highlights on Channel 4.

Session	Day	Sky F1	Channel 4	Session Start	Local Time
Practice 1	Fri	0245	-	0300	1000
Practice 2	Fri	0645	-	0700	1400
Practice 3	Sat	0345	-	0400	1100
Qualifying	Sat	0600	1300	0700	1400
Race	Sun	0530	1400	0710	1410

Shanghai International Circuit



Live timing for all sessions available here:

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/f1-...

Info such as lap times, PU use, technical reports, stewards decisions etc for the weekend will appear here:

https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...

Weather forecast:

http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/China/Shang...

The tyre choices:



What Pirelli say about this track and race:

• Turns 1 and 13 are the most demanding corners for tyres. Turn 1 is a decreasing radius corner leading straight into Turn 2, while the long Turn 13 is taken at high speed.
• There’s a very long straight that can have the effect of cooling the tyres, meaning that drivers need to pay attention to the braking area: this is also a key opportunity for overtaking.
• The circuit isn’t used much during the year, which can make it quite ‘green’ and slippery.
• The 2017 strategy was influenced by rain and safety cars. Lewis Hamilton won with a two-stopper, starting on the intermediate and then completing two stints on the soft.
• It’s quite a fast and flowing circuit, with lateral forces (cornering) more predominant than longitudinal forces (acceleration and braking).
• In cold weather, some graining has been observed in the past: especially in free practice.
• The surface is quite smooth, making it easier to find a consistent set up: the main challenge is to identify the best compromise between downforce and drag to find the right wing level.

2017 Qualifying





2017 Race







Fastest Race Lap: 1:35.378 (L44, L. Hamilton; Mercedes)

---

Pirelli have skipped a compound and are bringing the ultrasoft as the qualifying tyre, should mean this race could throw up a similar tyre strategy variation as the last race.

Whilst this track has a very long back straight (one of the longest in F1), the total % of full throttle per lap is lesser than Bahrain, fuel consumption is also lower. Downforce level is said to be medium, as despite having quite a few high/mid speed corners, the end of straight speed is still very important for defending from attacks.

The cars spend the vast majority of the long straight doing well over 250 km/h, so good aero efficiency is important for a good race car especially for those in the midfield. It’s a front-limited track in contrast to Bahrain as well, so the midfield order could well throw up another surprise. Who will get it right and who will struggle?

Looking at the tyre choices, the teams are definitely anticipating a 2-stop race.

Homework for Max:

How to not DNF in lap1How to go from P16 to P7 in lap 1 - 2017 Chinese GP Onboard

Edited by Dr Z on Tuesday 10th April 13:06

[Gad-Westy]

Looking forward to this. What's the story with the number of pit stops shown for last year's race?

[Vaud]

Gad-Westy said:

Looking forward to this. What's the story with the number of pit stops shown for last year's race?

Wet start.

[Gad-Westy]

Vaud said:

Gad-Westy said:

Looking forward to this. What's the story with the number of pit stops shown for last year's race?

Wet start.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong but it says Lewis Started on Inters and then made 4 pit stops each time for softs or super softs. But the reports says he stopped twice.

[Dr Z]

Gad-Westy said:

Vaud said:

Gad-Westy said:

Looking forward to this. What's the story with the number of pit stops shown for last year's race?

Wet start.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong but it says Lewis Started on Inters and then made 4 pit stops each time for softs or super softs. But the reports says he stopped twice.

Something wrong with that FOM graphic...this is correct:



Dotted line mean that stint was done on used tyres.

[suffolk009]

Thanks Dr Z for an excellent opening post, as always.

I expect it'll be an interesting race.

My only real wish is that McLaren and Alonso maintain their championship positions. (Its a big ask!)

[The Moose]

Too early in the am for me. 2:10am - will have to catch the highlights.

[Gad-Westy]

Dr Z said:

Gad-Westy said:

Vaud said:

Gad-Westy said:

Looking forward to this. What's the story with the number of pit stops shown for last year's race?

Wet start.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong but it says Lewis Started on Inters and then made 4 pit stops each time for softs or super softs. But the reports says he stopped twice.

Something wrong with that FOM graphic...this is correct:



Dotted line mean that stint was done on used tyres.

That's better. Glad my sanity is just about still in check, possibly.

Seem to remember some good races here. I'm not a big fan of the track but I like turn 1 and there seems to be decent overtaking opportunities in a couple of places.

[FurballS2000]

Hang on medium, soft and ultra soft?? No supers?

Haven't noticed a selection like that before, they are usually three sequential compounds aren't they?

[thegreenhell]

Gad-Westy said:

Vaud said:

Gad-Westy said:

Looking forward to this. What's the story with the number of pit stops shown for last year's race?

Wet start.

Maybe I'm reading it wrong but it says Lewis Started on Inters and then made 4 pit stops each time for softs or super softs. But the reports says he stopped twice.

Giovinazzi crashed on the pit straight early on, and the safety car led the field through the pits while the debris was cleared. Each pass through the pits behind the safety car registered as a pit stop on the automatic counter.

[geeks]

Gasly for the podium

[Dr Z]

Gad-Westy said:

That's better. Glad my sanity is just about still in check, possibly.

Seem to remember some good races here. I'm not a big fan of the track but I like turn 1 and there seems to be decent overtaking opportunities in a couple of places.

Yeah, the track does see some good racing although some of the passes felt a bit inevitable in the narrow pre-2017 cars, I think last year the effect of DRS+slip streaming was spot on, so the passes were good...hope the same for this year. I only paid attention last year, but the turns 1 through to 4 was very interesting to observe, how different drivers approached it over a qualifying lap.

FurballS2000 said:

Hang on medium, soft and ultra soft?? No supers?

Haven't noticed a selection like that before, they are usually three sequential compounds aren't they?

It's a new thing Pirelli are doing this year to have more of a spread in tyre performance to encourage strategy variation between drivers/teams.

Bridgestone used to do it too, bringing two tyre compounds to a race that are two steps apart.

suffolk009 said:

Thanks Dr Z for an excellent opening post, as always.

I expect it'll be an interesting race.

My only real wish is that McLaren and Alonso maintain their championship positions. (Its a big ask!)

...I wish the same as you.

[slipstream 1985]

If williams can't get a point here thy are doomed for the season

[geeks]

slipstream 1985 said:

If williams can't get a point here thy are doomed for the season

Well they didn't last year so....

[FurballS2000]

Dr Z said:

FurballS2000 said:

Hang on medium, soft and ultra soft?? No supers?

Haven't noticed a selection like that before, they are usually three sequential compounds aren't they?

It's a new thing Pirelli are doing this year to have more of a spread in tyre performance to encourage strategy variation between drivers/teams.

Bridgestone used to do it too, bringing two tyre compounds to a race that are two steps apart.

Fair enough, should make it more interesting.

[ajprice]

Hopefully the race will be more like Bahrain than Australia in terms of stuff happening. Looking forward to Merc/Ferrari, can Max keep it clean, can Red Bull finish, will McLaren still be 4th after the race

[HustleRussell]

Lots of rain on Friday, presumably Giovanazzi will crash on the start / finish straight

[DanielSan]

slipstream 1985 said:

If williams can't get a point here thy are doomed for the season

Given the weaknesses of their car seem to be aero, handling and top speed I’d say they’re pretty fked everywhere but you need all of those things to work in China to do anything.

[Vaud]

thegreenhell said:

Giovinazzi crashed on the pit straight early on, and the safety car led the field through the pits while the debris was cleared. Each pass through the pits behind the safety car registered as a pit stop on the automatic counter.

Ahhh!

[suffolk009]

DanielSan said:

slipstream 1985 said:

If williams can't get a point here thy are doomed for the season

Given the weaknesses of their car seem to be aero, handling and top speed I’d say they’re pretty fked everywhere but you need all of those things to work in China to do anything.

Don't forget the drivers....