China is the first sprint format weekend of this season; the others will be USA (Miami), Austria, USA (COTA), Brazil and Qatar. The 2024 sprint format is slightly different to last season’s:
- Friday: Free Practice 1; Sprint Qualifying
- Saturday: Sprint (don’t say race); Qualifying (for the race)
- Sunday: Race
Within Sprint Qualifying (SQ) the restrictions are that they can only run new medium compound tyres in SQ1 and SQ2 (12mins and 10mins respectively) and then softs in SQ3 (8mins).
There’s only one practice session all weekend, and F1 hasn’t been at the Shanghai circuit for four years; add to that a partial resurfacing that’s led to visibly grip levels around the track, and I think the teams might use SQ and maybe even the Sprint itself as data gathering to replace the missing practice sessions.
As for news since the previous race, F1 released the provisional 2025 calendar (nothing too surprising) and ALO has signed a new contract with Aston Martin.
Free Practice
There was a brief red flag during FP1 due to a small grass fire, possibly caused by sparks from the cars’ titanium skid plates (legality planks).
ALB looks very cute in his panda helmet – pretty funny when you see the onboard driver-facing camera
Sprint Qualifying (SQ)
Red Bull mechanics are working frantically on PER’s car, replacing the floor
The weather forecast shows rain heading towards the circuit but may not arrive before the end of Sprint Quali.
Sprint Qualifying session 1 (SQ1)
Air temperature 20°C; track 28°C; 34% humidity… but 60% chance of rain during SQ
12mins on soft tyres starts now, but there’s not much activity in the pit lane
And then, as soon as one car moves they all move, rushing to the end of the pit lane and then crawling out onto the track
Radio from PIA reporting “light drops of rain” already
ALB 1:38.043
ZHO 1:37.936
BOT 1:37.492
HAM 1:37.239
LEC 1:36.886
NOR P2 by 0.004sec
ALO 1:36.883
VER 1:36.456
PER 1:36.110
5mins left; bottom 5 are OCO, SAR, TSU, HUL, MAG
OCO gets a twitch in the final turn but stays out of the gravel trap
SAI reports a Haas that was hogging the apex on a slow lap when the Ferrari was on a quick one
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are OCO, ALB, RUS, SAR, TSU
ALB P17
SAR P18
TSU P18
RUS P12, GAS P16
OCO pits
Back of the grid: GAS, OCO, ALB, TSU, SAR
Radio from LEC reporting another grass fire at Turn 5, same as in practice
Yellow flag as everyone returns to the pits
There’s a long list of drivers who the stewards will review after SQ3 for going too slowly in SQ1
FIA weather alert says the rain will arrive in 14mins
The teams are preparing intermediate and wet tyres
Qualifying session 2
Queue forming at the pit exit as everyone wants to get a lap time set before the rain gets worse, but there’s ~2mins before SQ2 starts
NOR 1:36.087
PIA 1:35.853
LEC 1:35.711
VER 1:35.606
The rain is getting harder
3mins left; bottom 5 are RUS, MAG, HUL, RIC, STR
RUS has abandoned his quick lap
Race control have declared it a wet session
Chequered flag is a minute away but everyone is in the pits
The crowd are cheering as local driver ZHO is through to SQ3
Middle of the grid: RUS, MAG, HUL, RIC, STR
Top 10 shootout is between VER, LEC, PER, PIA, NOR, SAI, BOT, ALO, HAM, ZHO
This will be the first time the teams have run in the wet on this track; even on intermediate tyres, this is a step into the unknown
Qualifying session 3
As is becoming a habit, a queue is forming; NOR is at the front; HAM remains in the Mercedes garage
Green light; they gingerly take to the track
NOR has run wide at Turn 6 but recovered
Every time they touch the accelerator the cars twitch
LEC is off, across the gravel and tapped the tyre wall, but he recovers and his front wing seems ok
Race control: pit lane incident involving ALO noted
VER runs wide in T6 on his “fast” lap
PIA 2:02.598
PER 2:00.455
VER’s lap time deleted, as is ZHO’s
2mins left
VER runs wide, across the gravel in the final turn
ALO 2:00.213
HAM 1:59.321
Chequered flag; order is HAM, ALO, PER, LEC, PIA, BOT, SAI, NOR, ZHO, VER
PIA P5
VER P2
SAI P4
NOR 1:57.940 … but it’s deleted
ZHO P10
BOT P8
NOR’s lap time has been reinstated, so he’s P1!
Provisional grid for the Sprint: NOR, HAM, ALO, VER, SAI, PER, LEC, PIA, BOT, ZHO, RUS, MAG, HUL, RIC, STR, GAS, OCO, ALB, TSU, SAR
Sprint
Grid: NOR, HAM, ALO, VER, SAI, PER, LEC, PIA, BOT, ZHO, RUS, MAG, HUL, RIC, STR, GAS, OCO, ALB, TSU, SAR
NOR leads everyone away on the formation lap – quite a lot of wheel spin leaving his start position
Everyone on medium tyres except RUS on softs
Track temperature 27°C
It’s taking a while for everyone to reach their grid spots
01/19: HAM steals P1 going into Turn 1 but NOR is alongside
NOR runs wide, drops to P7
SAI challenging VER for P3
02: HAM, ALO, VER, SAI, PER, LEC, NOR, PIA, ZHO, MAG, BOT, RUS, RIC, HUL, STR, OCO, GAS, TSU, ALB, SAR
03: SAI has a small lockup as he battles to stay in DRS range of VER
Radio from VER, “Why is my battery flat?”; he’s given a mode change
RUS inside MAG for P10
05/19: HAM, ALO, VER, SAI, PER, LEC, NOR, PIA, ZHO, RUS
06: VER starting to close on ALO
07: LEC has a twitch in Turn 2
VER easily inside ALO for P2
08: Radio from HAM complaining he can’t turn in on the low-speed corners
HAM locks up, runs wide in the hairpin; VER now has DRS
09: HAM’s Mercedes looks pretty loose in the slow turns
VER inside HAM at the hairpin to take P1
GAS takes P16
10/19: VER, HAM, ALO, SAI, PER, LEC, NOR, PIA, RUS, ZHO, MAG, BOT, RIC, STR, OCO, HUL, GAS, TSU, ALB, SAR
VER has already opened a 2sec lead
ALO has SAI on his tail, who in turn has PER in his mirrors
12: ALO is at the head of a DRS train with SAI, PER, LEC, NOR and PIA line astern
14: ALB takes P18 from HUL – the Haas has been dropping down the order for the past few laps
15/19: VER, HAM, ALO, SAI, PER, LEC, NOR, PIA, RUS, ZHO
LEC closing up on PER’s tail
16: ALO defends P3 but SAI gets alongside; a small touch; SAI gets ahead but then PER squeezes past both of them
LEC has passed ALO too
ALO has a puncture
SAI and LEC fighting over P4
17: VER 10secs clear of HAM
ALO pits
LEC comes out ahead of his teammate
ALO is told to retire the car
18: VER, HAM, PER, LEC, SAI, NOR, PIA, RUS, ZHO, MAG
NOR has DRS behind SAI
19/19: SAI defending P5 from NOR
VER takes the chequered flag
Provisional result: VER, HAM, PER, LEC, SAI, NOR; PIA, RUS, ZHO, MAG, RIC, BOT, STR, OCO, GAS, TSU, ALB, SAR, HUL
DNF: ALO
Penalty: ALO given 10sec penalty for causing collision with SAI (even though ALO retired)
Qualifying
Air temperature 21°C; track 35°C; humidity 57%
There is some rain in the distance but not expected to arrive during Quali
Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
Another session starts with a queue at the pit exit and then everyone crawling out onto the track
GAS 1:36.975
MAG 1:36.626
RUS 1:36.436
SAR runs wide, off track and will have that one deleted
ALO 1:35.116
(VER P2)
PER runs wide, gets annoyed at ALB who we right on the outside of the turn
PIA 1:35.014
SAI 1:34.970
5mins left; bottom 5 are RIC, NOR, HAM, MAG, PER
NOR 1:34.842
Just SAI, PIA and ALO remain in the pits
Brief yellow flag – SAR spun in Turn 9
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are TSU, GAS, SAR, RIC, HAM
HAM P12, OCO P16
RIC P9, STR P16
VER 1:34.742
GAS P9, HAM P16
OCO P11, MAG P16
LEC P2, ZHO P16
TSU P19
Back of the grid: ZHO, MAG, HAM, TSU, SAR
Qualifying session 2
Green lights but no activity… short wait, and then everyone wants to be on track so the usual crawling queue forms
ALO 1:34.801
PIA 1:34.659
NOR 1:34.460
VER 1:33.946
SAI spins out of the final corner; hits an advertising board and taps the tyre wall
Red flag with 6:44 left of Q2
SAI has lost the front wing but he’s moving again; trouble is he’s just past the pit entrance, so he’s got to drive the whole lap to get back to the pits
Current order: VER, NOR, PIA, ALO, PER, HUL, BOT, STR, LEC, RIC, ALB, OCO, GAS, SAI, RUS
Green light marks Q2 resumes; RUS is first to leave the garage
(RUS P3)
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are RIC, ALB, OCO, GAS, SAI
OCO P11
RIC P9, LEC P11
SAI P2, BOT P11
ALB P14
LEC P3, RIC P11
BOT P10, STR P11
Middle of the grid: STR, RIC, OCO, ALB, GAS
Top 10 shootout is between VER, PER, SAI, LEC, NOR, RUS, ALO, PIA, HUL, BOT
Qualifying session 3
HUL 1:35.400
RUS P2
VER 1:33.977
PER P2
ALO P2
PIA P4
SAI P5
NOR P4
LEC P7
BOT is still in the pits
Order after the first run: VER, ALO, PER, NOR, PIA, SAI, LEC, HUL, RUS, BOT
HUL P6
RUS P3
Chequered flag; order is VER, ALO, RUS, PER, NOR, PIA, HUL, SAI, LEC, BOT
SAI P2
LEC P2
PIA P2
BOT P10
NOR P2
VER 1:33.660
ALO P2
PER P2
Front of the grid: VER, PER, ALO, NOR, PIA, LEC, SAI, RUS, HUL, BOT
Provisional grid: VER, PER, ALO, NOR, PIA, LEC, SAI, RUS, HUL, BOT, STR, RIC, OCO, ALB, GAS, ZHO, MAG, HAM, TSU, SAR
Race
Grid: VER, PER, ALO, NOR, PIA, LEC, SAI, RUS, HUL, BOT, STR, RIC, OCO, ALB, GAS, ZHO, MAG, HAM, TSU, SAR*
*SAR will start from the pit lane
VER already reporting drizzle
VER leads everyone away on the formation lap
Everyone starting medium compound tyres except STR, HAM, TSU and SAR on soft, and MAG on hards
01/56: ALO takes P2 into Turn 1
NOR challenging PER for P3
ZHO inside MAG for P17
LEC inside HUL to take P7
02: VER, ALO, PER, NOR, PIA, RUS, LEC, SAI, HUL, STR, BOT, OCO, ALB, GAS, RIC, TSU, MAG, ZHO, HAM, SAR
DRS enabled
HAM complaining about his soft tyres
04: PER all over ALO’s rear wing, aided by DRS
05/56: VER, ALO, PER, NOR, PIA, RUS, LEC, SAI, STR, HUL, BOT, OCO, ALB, GAS, RIC, TSU, HAM, MAG, ZHO, SAR
PER squeezes past ALO to reclaim P2
06: NOR catching ALO
07: NOR inside ALO at the hairpin to take P3
Radio from GAS complaining ALB pushed him wide
09: LEC past RUS for P6
10/56: VER, PER, NOR, ALO, PIA, LEC, RUS, SAI, STR, BOT, OCO, ALB, GAS, RIC, HAM, MAG, SAR, HUL, TSU, ZHO
BOT, OCO, ALB and HAM all pit
11: RUS defending P7 hard from SAI
There’s debris on the track at Turn 11
12: LEC inside PIA to steal P4
ALO pits; hards go on; rejoins P10
RUS pits, followed by GAS
GAS has a long stop – the rear-right wasn’t on but GAS starts to pull away; mechanic took a tumble but team tell GAS he’s ok
13: HAM looking to pass TSU
SAR pits; he’s the last to get rid of the soft tyres
HAM takes P15
14: VER pits, followed by PER; both onto hards; VER rejoins P4, PER P6
15/56: NOR, LEC, VER, PIA, SAI, PER, ALO, RUS, MAG, STR; RIC pits
STR dives inside MAG for P9
16: VER inside LEC into the hairpin; takes P2
Radio from HAM complaining he can’t catch OCO, “This car is so slow”
17: PIA pits; mediums; P9
18: PER takes P4 from SAI just as SAI is told to box
SAI pits; hards; P10
19: SAI takes P9 from HUL
VER sweeps past NOR to take P1
20/56: VER, NOR, LEC, PER, ALO, RUS, PIA, STR, SAI, HUL, BOT, OCO, HAM, TSU, RIC, ALB, ZHO, SAR, GAS, MAG
TSU lets teammate RIC take P14
21: BOT runs wide, up the escape road; reports “Engine is gone”
SAI is all over STR’s rear wing but can’t pass while they’re in the yellow flag section
Why no VSC?
SAI makes a move but locks up; STR still P8
VSC deployed just after NOR passed the pit entrance – why did race control decide to deploy VSC at that point?
22[VSC]: LEC pits; hards; P5
STR pits, as does HAM
23[VSC]: NOR pits; hards; P3
Marshals still trying to move BOT’s car; it’s stuck in gear
SC deployed
24[SC]: VER pits; hards;
PER pits; hards
ALO pits; softs
RUS pits; hards
25/56[SC]: VER, NOR, LEC, PER, PIA, SAI, ALO, RUS, RIC, STR, SAR, HUL, OCO, HAM, MAG, TSU, ALB, ZHO, GAS; out: BOT
PIA pits; rejoins P8
Race control: Safety Car infringement – SAR, HUL noted
26[SC]: Radio for NOR telling him they expect everyone will go to the end except ALO
SC in at the end of this lap
VER slows, causing the field to bunch up
27: VER already has a 1sec lead by Turn 1
STR pits
Yellow flags – TSU has spun; he’s driving across the grass to park
SC deployed again
Replay shows ALO locks up at the hairpin (before the restart) causing the next few cars to concertina and then STR rear-ends RIC
Replay of MAG lunging down the inside of TSU, hitting the RB and spinning him around
28[SC]: VER, NOR, LEC, PER, ALO, SAI, RUS, PIA, RIC, HUL, HAM, OCO, ALB, SAR, ZHO, GAS, MAG, STR; out: TSU, BOT
Radio from RIC reporting floor damage
Radio for SAI, “Plan D for Delta”; SAI sounds doubtful, asks if they’re sure
Half distance
29[SC]: TSU’s car being craned away
30/56[SC]: Incident involving MAG and TSU has been noted, as has STR/RIC incident
31[SC]: SC in at the end of this lap
VER pulling alongside SC and asking why it didn’t end sooner
32: NOR a little closer to VER into T1 compared to the previous restart, but it’s still a 0.7sec gap
HUL takes P9 from RIC… and HAM passes RIC too
34: RIC pits
STR gets 10sec penalty
MAG also given 10sec penalty
35/56: STR around MAG, but MAG fights back and forces STR wide; STR comes out ahead but MAG doesn’t give up; STR eventually claims P16
37: PER has DRS behind LEC
Other battles: HAM behind HUL, and GAS has SAR and ZHO on his tail
39: ZHO inside SAR for P14
PER makes a late move on LEC, steals P3
40/56: VER, NOR, PER, LEC, ALO, SAI, RUS, PIA, HUL, HAM, OCO, ALB, ZHO, SAR, MAG, GAS, STR; out: RIC, TSU, BOT
Radio from PIA asking how much damage he has; he’s told “it’s significant”
41: HAM has a look at MAG in the hairpin but the Haas hangs on to P9
HAM makes another move and takes the place
43: VER’s lead 7.5sec
44: ALO pits from P5; mediums; rejoins P12
45/56: VER, NOR, PER, LEC, SAI, RUS, PIA, HAM, HUL, OCO, ALB, ALO, MAG, SAR, GAS, ZHO, STR; out: RIC, TSU, BOT
ALO past ALB for P11
46: ALO fastest lap 1:37.810
ALO takes P10 from OCO
48: ALO easily past HUL for P9
49: ALO puts a wheel in the gravel in the final turn but keeps his foot in and recovers
ALO glides past HAM for P8
50/56: VER, NOR, PER, LEC, SAI, RUS, PIA, ALO, HAM, HUL
ALO takes P7 from PIA
ZHO past SAR for P15
51: Radio from GAS calling SAR an idiot for pushing him wide
53: GAS takes P13 from MAG
54: ZHO catches SAR and claims P14 … and then takes P13 from MAG, although he pulled out too late and broke his front wing end plate
55/56: VER, NOR, PER, LEC, SAI, RUS, ALO, PIA, HAM, HUL, OCO, ALB, GAS, ZHO, MAG, SAR, STR; out: RIC, TSU, BOT
Radio from VER asking the team to check his tyres after running over some debris
56: The only close battle is STR with DRS behind SAR
VER takes the chequered flag
Provisional result: VER, NOR, PER, LEC, SAI, RUS, ALO*, PIA, HAM, HUL, OCO, ALB, GAS, ZHO, MAG**, SAR, STR**
DNF: RIC, TSU, BOT
*Fastest lap: ALO
**penalties to be applied: MAG & STR each have 10sec penalty
Post-race penalties
RIC was given a three-place grid drop for the Miami race and 2 penalty points after the stewards “determined that Car 3 overtook Car 27 while the race was under Safety Car conditions.”
Alpine were fined €10,000 for the unsafe release of GAS (lap 12)
[2024 calendar and driver line-up]
