2024 Chinese Grand Prix

The 17th running of the Chinese Grand Prix, and the first since 2019 after the planned races from 2020 to 2023 were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Held at the Shanghai International Circuit across 19–21 April, the event is the fifth round of the 2024 season and the first Grand Prix weekend of the season to utilise the sprint format.

Championship standings

After the Japanese Grand Prix, Max Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship with 77 points, 13 points ahead of teammate Sergio Pérez in second, and 18 ahead of Charles Leclerc in third. Red Bull Racing leads the Constructors’ Championship with 141 points, from Ferrari (120) and McLaren (69).

Previous race

At Suzuka, Verstappen won from pole. A red-flag period of over twenty minutes followed a first-lap crash between Daniel Ricciardo and Alexander Albon, after which the race resumed with a standing start. Yuki Tsunoda scored a point in tenth, the first Japanese Formula One driver to score a point at their home race since 2012.

Entrants

The drivers and teams are the same as the season entry list. Zhou Guanyu of Sauber becomes the first Chinese driver to compete at his home Grand Prix.

Sprint format

The weekend is the first of six in the season to follow the sprint format. The FIA is criticised by some drivers for choosing to run the sprint format at a venue that had not hosted a Formula One race for some years, with drivers concerned that one practice session would be insufficient to prepare.

Weather

Cloudy conditions are expected for race day.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the C2, C3, and C4 tyre compounds — the middle three in their range — designated hard, medium, and soft respectively.

Practice

The only free practice session is topped by Lance Stroll of Aston Martin ahead of Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. A brief red flag period is observed after a patch of grass at turn 7 catches fire.

Sprint qualifying

In a rain-affected sprint qualifying session, Lando Norris of McLaren takes sprint pole position ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. Norris’s pole time was initially deleted for a track limits violation but reinstated after analysis showed he lost time. The start of SQ2 is delayed after the same patch of grass catches fire again. Sauber drivers Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas both reach SQ3 for the first time this season, qualifying 10th and 9th respectively.