What to Watch in the Upcoming Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix
As we head into the second round of the 2025 Formula 1 season, the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit promises plenty of excitement and challenges for teams and drivers alike. This year features an entirely new lineup of drivers that is set to bring fresh energy and fierce competition to the track. This year, the teams have more data about the circuit, and teams want to push their cars to the limit and find more pace. Also, the race will be held without home hero Zhou Guanyu, which will make things slightly different for the local Chinese fans. Here is a closer look at what to expect this weekend.
1. The First Sprint Race Weekend
This weekend marks the first sprint race of the season, which means teams have only one practice session to dial in their setups. The Shanghai International Circuit is known for its mix of low- to medium-speed corners and a long straight. This complex layout forces teams to make tough decisions on car setup. Finding the right balance between downforce in the corners and low drag on the straight is a big challenge, and we can expect teams to be pushing their cars to the limit to gain every possible advantage. Also, don’t forget Max Verstappen is the defending champion of the Shanghai sprint race, is he going to bring some fantastic drive to defend his crown in Shanghai? We will find out soon.
2. The First Dry Race of the Season
After a chaotic wet weekend in Albert Park, both the sprint race and feature race in Shanghai will be held under dry conditions. This change is crucial because it will finally reveal the true performance of the 2025 cars. In dry weather, the differences in car performance become much more apparent, especially among the midfield teams. Rookies, in particular, are eagerly waiting for the dry race as it gives them a chance to show their speed and prove they deserve their seats without the interference of slippery tracks and being part of the crashes.
3. Red Bull in a Crisis Situation
Recent sessions have shown that the McLaren cars are setting the pace early in the season. Max Verstappen, despite giving his all, only managed to secure a P2 after the runoff of Oscar Piastri, ending his consecutive lead in the Drivers’ Championship for 1,029 days, which was the longest in history. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s other driver, Liam Lawson, had a disappointing session with a P18 in qualifying and a spin-out DNF. Red Bull Racing now faces a major challenge: can they unlock more pace in Shanghai after learning more about the 17 upgrades they brought in the season opener? The upcoming race could be crucial for helping Max fight for his fifth World Drivers’ Championship, or it could signal deeper issues for the team, much like Sergio Perez’s last podium at this circuit last season, which hinted at a potential downfall.
4. Can Ferrari Find More Pace?
Ferrari had a rough start to 2025. The changes they made to the car in the final year of the current technical regulations have not yet paid off. In Australia, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton managed only P7 and P8 in qualifying, and their race finishes of P8 and P10 were disappointing after a poor strategy. On top of that, minor conflicts between the drivers and their race engineer, and even getting out-scored with Sauber, have added up the pressure. Despite this difficult start, both Ferrari drivers have expressed confidence that the SF-25 has more potential that hasn’t been unlocked yet. With Shanghai home hero Zhou Guanyu working behind the scenes as reserve driver, let's see if Ferrari can find more pace from SF-25.
