With no time to rest, and after the chaos of the first F1 race of the season at the Australian Grand Prix, the circus now moves to the Shanghai International Circuit for the second race of the year: the Chinese Grand Prix. Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz will be looking to make up for their respective retirements in Australia and fight for their first points of the season.
This weekend, the Chinese GP brings us the first sprint race of the season, which will impact how teams prepare for Sunday’s race. With just one Free Practice session on Friday, teams will have limited time to fine-tune their cars and maximize performance. This will be a key weekend for some teams to take risks and push their cars to the limit to see what they are truly capable of.
On the Hunt for McLaren
The first race of the year kicked off with a bang, delivering a spectacular show that hints at a highly competitive championship. Unpredictable conditions could once again shake up the grid, just like we saw in Australia, where rain led to unexpected position changes and drivers out of place. However, two key facts remain: McLaren is the team to beat, and Max Verstappen is still (if there was any doubt) the best driver on the grid.
The Dutchman capitalized on the rain to disrupt McLaren’s party, nearly snatching victory from Lando Norris by mere tenths of a second. In dry conditions, McLaren appears to have little competition—at least in these early races of the season. However, Verstappen isn’t going to pass up the chance to challenge two drivers who still need to prove they can perform under the pressure of a title fight.
Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz: Chasing Their First Points
The Australian Grand Prix left a bitter taste for Spanish fans. Both Fernando Alonso and Carlos Sainz retired, despite having strong chances of scoring points. Meanwhile, Williams and Aston Martin made solid progress at the start of the season. Alexander Albon and Lance Stroll secured impressive fifth and sixth-place finishes, earning valuable points for two teams aiming to lead the midfield battle.
A Disappointing Ferrari in Australia
The Chinese Grand Prix will be crucial to determine Ferrari’s true performance level. Pre-season expectations placed them close to McLaren, but in Australia, they only managed P8 with Charles Leclerc and P10 with Lewis Hamilton. Their pace in dry conditions remains a mystery, as they didn’t appear at the front of the grid until the chaos unfolded.
Where to Watch the Chinese F1 Grand Prix
United States: ESPN, ESPN Deportes (Spanish) and F1 TV Pro.
United Kingdom: Sky Sports F1 and NOW TV.
Canada: TSN, RDS (French), and F1 TV Pro.
Chinese Grand Prix F1 Schedule (Local Time for Each Region)
| Session | USA (ET/PT) | UK (GMT) | Canada (ET/PT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Thu, March 21 – 12:30 AM / 9:30 PM (Mar 20) | Fri, March 21 – 4:30 AM | Thu, March 21 – 12:30 AM / 9:30 PM (Mar 20) |
| Sprint Qualifying | Thu, March 21 – 8:30 AM / 5:30 AM | Fri, March 21 – 12:30 PM | Thu, March 21 – 8:30 AM / 5:30 AM |
| Sprint Race | Fri, March 22 – 12:00 AM / 9:00 PM (Mar 21) | Sat, March 22 – 4:00 AM | Fri, March 22 – 12:00 AM / 9:00 PM (Mar 21) |
| Qualifying | Fri, March 22 – 8:00 AM / 5:00 AM | Sat, March 22 – 12:00 PM | Fri, March 22 – 8:00 AM / 5:00 AM |
| Race | Sat, March 23 – 8:00 AM / 5:00 AM | Sun, March 23 – 12:00 PM | Sat, March 23 – 8:00 AM / 5:00 AM |