The Official 2017 Chinese Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**

[Dr Z]

Apologies if anyone else was planning on starting it off but race is on this weekend, and no thread yet so…

Date(s): Friday 07 April - Sunday 09 April 2017

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1, with the Channel 4 highlights indicated below.

Session	Day	Sky F1	Channel 4	Session Start	Local Time
Practice 1	Fri	0245	-	0300	1000
Practice 2	Fri	0645	-	0700	1400
Practice 3	Sat	0445	-	0500	1200
Qualifying	Sat	0700	1300	0800	1500
Race	Sun	0530	1330	0700	1400

Shanghai International Circuit



The tyre choices are Super Softs (must be available for Q3), Softs and Medium. All drivers get 7 sets of Super Softs, 4 of Softs and 2 of Mediums for the weekend.




2016 Grand Prix Results

Pos	Driver	Team	Time	Grid
1	Nico Rosberg	Mercedes	1:38:53.891	1
2	Sebastian Vettel	Ferrari	+37.776	4
3	Daniil Kvyat	Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer	+45.936	6
4	Daniel Ricciardo	Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer	+52.688	2
5	Kimi Räikkönen	Ferrari	+1:05.872	3
6	Felipe Massa	Williams-Mercedes	+1:15.511	10
7	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	+1:18.230	22
8	Max Verstappen	Toro Rosso-Ferrari	+1:19.268	9
9	Carlos Sainz Jr.	Toro Rosso-Ferrari	+1:24.127	8
10	Valtteri Bottas	Williams-Mercedes	+1:26.192	5

Pole time: 1:35.402 (N. Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1)

Fastest Race Lap: 1:39.824 (L48; N. Hülkenberg, Force India-Mercedes)

Live timing for all sessions available here:

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/f1-...

Event timings, steward decisions, technical reports and laptimes for the weekend will appear here:

http://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-ch...

Weather forecast:

http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/China/Shang...

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Mercedes to stage a strong comeback? Ferrari were pretty close on race pace to Merc at this track last year...Kvyat kind of put paid to their race ambitions but Vettel still managed to finish 2nd...surely not another Ferrari win on the cards?

Other than that, one of the longest straight on the calendar led to way too many DRS passes in previous years. Would be interesting to see what happens here.

Edited by Dr Z on Wednesday 5th April 11:10

[BrettMRC]

Great OP as always - thank you!

Suspect another close fight between Mercedes and Ferrari.

Also have a feeling McLaren and Toro Rosso are going to feel some pain on the main straight...

[sandman77]

BrettMRC said:

Great OP as always - thank you!

Suspect another close fight between Mercedes and Ferrari.

Also have a feeling McLaren and Toro Rosso are going to feel some pain on the main straight...

I would add Red Bull to the list of teams that will struggle on the main straight.

[deadslow]

Ferarri 1 - 3 Merc 2 - 4

[Pickled]

One of the Force Indias to pick up a podium if any of the Merc/Fez have a problem - Perez and Hulk at 50-1 & 33-1 respectively to get a podium (2500-1 for a double podium )

[thegreenhell]

Early weather forecast is for rain on Sunday.

[red_slr]

Turn 1 should be something else they have nearly been flat out into it before now so with the extra aero they might be able to be properly loading up the car before having to get out of the throttle. Will test their braking skills though given the inside will be doing its best to lift off the deck! I wonder if we will see cars stopping on their own again...... <whistles..>

[Wh00sher]

I suspect McLaren will have an awful weekend here. Longest straight of the year will not help them at all.

I`m going for a Mercedes win. Whilst Seb could follow closer than Lewis, I can`t see him staying ahead, the long DRS will give Lewis the chance to pass if he get the pitstop timing wrong.

Rain would make it a far more exciting spectacle so I hope that forecast stays true.


DrZ, I can`t see anyone complaining if you start a thread !

[London424]

I think the turns 1,2,3,4 complex might be my favourite on the race calendar. Always fun battles and lines that can be taken through there.

[patmahe]

Wh00sher said:

I suspect McLaren will have an awful weekend here. Longest straight of the year will not help them at all.

I`m going for a Mercedes win. Whilst Seb could follow closer than Lewis, I can`t see him staying ahead, the long DRS will give Lewis the chance to pass if he get the pitstop timing wrong.

Rain would make it a far more exciting spectacle so I hope that forecast stays true.


DrZ, I can`t see anyone complaining if you start a thread !

If Lewis degrades his tyres again then Ferrari might not need to worry about it, Lewis wasn't able to reel Vettel back in after the pit stop in Australia. So I think Ferrari might just have the pace, strategy screw ups aside. I do however think Mercedes will dominate qualifying and lock out the front row so Vettel will have to get in among them at turn 1 to have any hope.

[Dr Z]

Wh00sher said:

Rain would make it a far more exciting spectacle so I hope that forecast stays true.


DrZ, I can`t see anyone complaining if you start a thread !

Ha, thanks!

It does look like some serious weather is developing in the area! Hope it doesn't blow over, we'll get to see the first wet weather race with these cars and the new wet start procedures!

[Vocal Minority]

We'll still not race until its suitable for inters and drying though.

[suffolk009]

If it's dry, then I fear Merc will be back on form. Vettel jogging around in 2nd or 3rd trying to keep up.
If it's wet, then roll some dice.

[swisstoni]

Hamilton and Bottas didn't exactly look devastated at the result last time out. Suggests to me that they think they still have the the better car.

[Dr Z]

Some photos from today as the mechanics build the cars up (From here).

Lovely one piece engine cover. Only Ferrari and Williams.




One of the Sauber garage still named as Wehrlein...


Too many paddles (Renault).


Unboxing the biggest and baddest OZ rims (Haas F1)


Wheel nuts...Toro Rosso garage.


Would love to know what the three different materials that look like gold/titanium/copper in the RB wheel hub are...Very unique.


For comparison, the Williams wheel hub assembly.


Could be very important tyres for this weekend.


Stroll's seat. Hopefully more comfortable this weekend than the last race.

Edited by Dr Z on Thursday 6th April 13:37

[Flying Phil]

Thanks for those pictures - fascinating details.

[another 3 points]

Where-Lein? Still resting his back or racing?

[Rick101]

FP1 time

[K50 DEL]

Well it would be if the whole F1 circus didn't seem intent on shooting itself in the foot.!!

[K50 DEL]

K50 DEL said:

Well it would be if the whole F1 circus didn't seem intent on shooting itself in the foot.!!

Well that was a waste of time getting up then... This sport really is its own worst enemy at times.