In a scheduling shift for 2024, Grand Prix qualifying moves after the Sprint race for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai
Last year during the six Sprint weekends on the Formula 1 calendar, qualifying for the Grand Prix took place after a single practice session on Friday, with Saturday reserved for Sprint qualifying and racing ahead of the Sunday Grand Prix. That order changes in 2024 and takes effect for the first time at Shanghai International Circuit for this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix. The Sprint was held earlier Saturday, with qualifying for the Grand Prix to follow. China returns to the F1 schedule for the first time since 2019 at the Shanghai circuit, which opened in 2004 and hosted F1 racing annually through 2019 before a series of COVID-19 pandemic cancellations.
How to Watch Chinese Grand Prix, Qualifying, in Formula 1 Today:
Date: April 20, 2024
Time: 2:55 a.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Live stream qualifying for the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix on Fubo: Start your free trial today!
The last time Formula 1 was in Shanghai, Valtteri Bottas — then with Mercedes — took the pole position before finishing second to teammate Lewis Hamilton in 2019. Current three-time defending world champion Max Verstappen placed fifth for Red Bull, behind the Ferraris of Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc.
The Shanghai International Circuit covers 3.388 miles with 16 turns with the track designed to look like the Mandarin symbol for “shang,” or “upwards.” The race starts with the drivers flying into Turns 1 and 2 before darting left through Turns 3 and 4. Drivers favor the super-high g force in Turns 7 and 8 as well.
Verstappen comes to Shanghai with a 13-point lead over Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez in the driver standings, with three wins in four starts this season. The Ferrari duo of Leclerc (18 points behind) and Carlos Saintz (22 points back) are third and fourth, respectively, with McLaren’s Lando Norris fifth, facing a deficit of 40 points.
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