China extends GP deal until 2017 - what do you think?
by Jack Lamure on Feb 17th, 2011Whilst preparing a list of five pre-season predictions earlier in the week this Badger writer was mulling over whether to include ‘2011 will see the final Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit.’ It turns out that this would have been a wholly inaccurate prediction, as the circuit today announced that it will host a grand prix until at least 2017. There’s egg on my face, but aren’t you at least impressed that I had the guts to own up to my lack of fortune telling abilities?
I’d based the idea that we wouldn’t see another Chinese GP (at this venue anyway) on the fact that it’s not a very popular race with the local fans. Attendances tend to be pretty poor, with grandstands more likely to be filled with giant banners reading ‘China’ than actual F1 watchers.
Photo: Red Bull Media / Paul Gilham / Getty Images
The race itself? It’s not been all bad. Who can forget Lewis Hamilton’s championship-wrecking slide in to the gravel as he entered the pits there in 2007, Sebastian Vettel earning Red Bull’s maiden win at the circuit in 2009 or Jenson Button’s measured victory in 2010 (along with Lewis’ late assault on his team-mate).
But there with money issues for the owners and a billion other tracks clamouring to add their name to the F1 calendar it did look at risk. And, let's be honest, it’s never been one to remember – how many races held at modern circuits are – and wouldn’t have prompted any tears here at Badger HQ. In fact one of the most exciting things we can remember happening at the circuit was Sebastien Buemi’s front wheels exploding off in last year’s practice session. We’ll take any excuse to show that – check it out below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBVuvIPe0tc
So how do you feel about the Chinese GP? Think we've got it all wrong, that this is a classic? Then why not let us know in the comments section and be sure to add any memories of the race that we've missed. Or do you agree that it's a damp squib? Well in that case tell us why - what's wrong with the circuit and the race? Whatever you do, be sure to get involved in some Badger banter!
Comments and Discussion
It's far from a classic track, but the back straight and hairpin gives a good overtaking opportunity, which is one more than you get from some tracks. So while I wouldn't miss it, it wouldn't be the first I'd get rid of.
Well, all the new tracks are rubbish, anyway.
However, CHINA is important to F1, as it is now the worlds # 2 economy.
Its a safe place to visit, unlike certain other countries on Bernies " must visit " list
Bring on a Macau GP instead.... sorry dreaming i know
Now that would be cool! But, as you say, it's a total dream. Ah well.
I tend to agree with this viewpoint. Not a hugely memorable track, but lots better than the worst ones!
Plus it's rained there for the past couple of years, which is always a good thing!
Macau Macau Macau. I've never understood why F1 doesn't race there? It never has to my knowledge aye? The Shanghai circuit isn't intrinsically a bad circuit, but it ain't an exciting one either. And it's a loss-making race. Apparently Bernie's given them a reduced rate to carry on hosting it. I smell some scary Chinese people, a dark room and an Ecclestone sized cheque going on here. No one involved has got that much of a vested interest in a loss making venue surely?
Lots of overtaking has happened at China over the years but the grandstands aren't sold out are they? so a strange decsion really
I can take it or leave it with the Chinese GP at Shanghai. Given a choice between a free trip to the F1 grand prix at Shanghai or to the F3 race at Macau, I'd be tempted to go for Macau!
The circuit at Shanghai seems poorly designed by Tilke in some respects, in that the sequence of corners for the first half of the lap resembles Sepang in Malaysia too closely. Was Tilke in a rush?! "Crikey there's a deadline for the design by Friday, so what we'll do is take some of the Sepang circuit and add a really long straight and hairpin, and then bring it back to the finish. That'll do, email a copy to Bernie, he won't notice if we make the grandstands and facilities larger than life! We can then pass the circuit design off as the Chinese character Shang!" Fair enough, nice idea about the character but it's a bit vague. Actually, in my opinion Tilke should just design the architecture and let someone else give each circuit a distintive feel like they used to before Tilke came along. At the end of the day, a street circuit like Macau would be much more interesting for an F1 race.
Despite my feelings for the Shanghai circuit there have been some interesting races in the wet at Shanghai, but it lacks atmosphere. Anyway, I'd swap it any day for a San Marino GP at the now revamped Imola circuit, or a French GP at the ready-to-go Paul Ricard circuit, or even an Austrian GP at the revamped A1-Ring, now called the Red Bull Ring, which despite being a Tilke remould, does still have one or two challenging corners akin to the original Österreichring.
I quite liked the A-1 Ring, although short, it was fast and had many challenging corners; i had no idea it was Tilke design til 5mins ago! Definately one of his better ones, and preferable to Shanghai in every way!
Though i was saddened to read on the Wiki page: "The grandstands and pit buildings were demolished in 2004, rendering the track unusable".
Quite why on earth anyone thought that would be a good idea is a mystery.
Hello Dave. The etracksonline website sheds light on the demolition at the A1-Ring and the aftermath; "The grandstands, pit buildings and other infrastructure were all torn down and the circuit was rendered completely unusuable when a trench was dug across the main straight, ready to insert a new tunnel to the paddock. Incredibly, the whole project ground to a halt when protestors successfully lobbied for on environmental grounds for the extended circuit to be canned." Here's a recent video of someone having a nosey round the circuit and going through the said tunnel most likely.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjfqQVEu_dY&tracker=False&NR=1
Pits and grandstands up on the hill are there, so hopefully the circuit is able to hold the DTM race this year as planned. It's great news really! Perhaps one day the bigwigs can stop squabbling about cash and do something for the fans by holding an F1 race in the spectacular Austrian hills again.
The last I'd heard was that Dietrich Mateschitz had bought it and re-named it the Red Bull Ring. Is that not on anymore? Also I seem to remember reading that he had no intention of taking F1 there, only DTM and lower formula events (though I find it hard to believe he wouldn't do pretty much anything to see Sebastian Vettel stood atop the podium there in Red Bull colours).
Yes, as you say Jimmy, word on the street is that Dietrich Mateschitz owns it and has called it the Red Bull Ring. I agree, it seems daft not to push for an F1 race being Red Bull, and also in that neck of the woods after Germany lost its second grand prix -the European, to Valencia. According to the Wiki site, a DTM race is scheduled for the middle of May this year with a historic F1 race on the bill too. Let's hope that goes ahead and see what happens thereafter.