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2026 CALENDAR β†—
Shanghai circuit layout
Track telemetry Β© OpenStreetMap contributors Β· ODbL

TRACK BRIEFING CHINA Β· SHANGHAI

Shanghai

Endless 270Β° Snail Turn 1-4 and massive 1.2km back straight

5.451 km16 turns Β· 56 Laps (305.066 km)

Shaped like the Chinese character 'Shang' (上), this Hermann Tilke masterpiece is famous for its tightening 270-degree snail turn and a 1.2-kilometer back straight where slipstream battles thrive.

LAP RECORD1:32.238Michael Schumacher (2004)
DRS ACTIVATION2 ZONESDetection points verified
DOWNFORCE LEVELMEDIUMWing & floor load package
TIRE STRESSHIGHLateral & thermal loading

01 SECTOR BY SECTOR GUIDE

01

Sector 1 (The Snail Turns 1–4)

Tightening spiral into hairpin

Entering at 300 km/h and decelerating continuously while turning right, before a sharp left hairpin.

02

Sector 2 (Turns 6–10 Flow)

Mid-speed switchbacks

Challenging acceleration zones testing rear traction and floor seal.

03

Sector 3 (1.2km Back Straight)

Long straight into Turn 14 stop

Massive speed trap exceeding 340 km/h into the heaviest braking zone at Turn 14.

02 DRIVER CRAFT & TELEMETRY LESSONS

01

Front-left tire graining in Turn 1

The continuous right-hand spiral puts enormous continuous load on the front-left tire.

02

Braking from 340 km/h into Turn 14

The hairpin at the end of the long straight offers prime overtaking if you brake at the 100m board.

03

Managing traction in changing wind

The wide open flat plains make the back straight sensitive to gusting tailwinds.

03 TRACK METEOROLOGY

TRACKSIDE METEOROLOGY
AIR TEMP22Β°C72Β°F
TRACK SURFACE38Β°COptimal Window
WIND24 KM/HNW (290Β°)
RAIN RISK18%Dry & Sunny
STRATEGIC IMPACT:

Track temp at 38Β°C favors starting on Medium C3 compound. Soft C4 tire degradation expected after 14 laps.

β€œShanghai tests front-tire longevity and straight-line aerodynamic efficiency.”

Track geometry: Β© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) β†—. Circuit facts: Formula 1 circuit guide β†—. Official circuit: Shanghai official site β†—.

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