Official 2025 Chinese Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***
Poll: Official 2025 Chinese Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***
Total Members Polled: 253
Discussion
It’s a busy start to the season with 4 races in 5 weeks, and we’re already in China after a compelling Australian GP. This is the first of 6 Sprint Races so the teams will only have one practice session to set the cars up.
Assuming its dry, it looks to be a straight fight between the McLarens with Max not too far behind. Ferrari (especially Hamilton) will be keen to put on a better show, and Hadjar, Doohan and Lawson will all want to put last weekend behind them. Should be another cracker.
My prediction is Piastri (again) for the win as he seems to have taken a step up in his qualifying and was faster than Lando on the inters, but as always please vote!
Here’s to a great race.
Date(s): Friday 21 March to Sunday 23 March 2024.
UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)
All sessions are live on Sky F1. Channel 4 is showing highlights of Qualifying and the Race.
2024 Highlights:
https://youtu.be/hh4prBn66Dc?si=AnccOUY1IQfY4tVm
Tyres:
Medium compounds C2-C4
2024 Result:
Assuming its dry, it looks to be a straight fight between the McLarens with Max not too far behind. Ferrari (especially Hamilton) will be keen to put on a better show, and Hadjar, Doohan and Lawson will all want to put last weekend behind them. Should be another cracker.
My prediction is Piastri (again) for the win as he seems to have taken a step up in his qualifying and was faster than Lando on the inters, but as always please vote!
Here’s to a great race.
Date(s): Friday 21 March to Sunday 23 March 2024.
UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)
All sessions are live on Sky F1. Channel 4 is showing highlights of Qualifying and the Race.
2024 Highlights:
https://youtu.be/hh4prBn66Dc?si=AnccOUY1IQfY4tVm
Tyres:
Medium compounds C2-C4
2024 Result:
Thanks for the thread as always 
Got to be Norris surely. I can't see who else is going to have a chance unless he fluffs the start but touch wood those days are past him. Let's hope he can get a bit of a haul early doors.
If Norris does start to lead the champs I hope he keeps his head together as the season goes on. I still wouldn't write Max off.
Looks like it's going to be dry other than a small chance of rain on Friday so we should get a better picture of who's where.
Got to be Norris surely. I can't see who else is going to have a chance unless he fluffs the start but touch wood those days are past him. Let's hope he can get a bit of a haul early doors.
If Norris does start to lead the champs I hope he keeps his head together as the season goes on. I still wouldn't write Max off.
Looks like it's going to be dry other than a small chance of rain on Friday so we should get a better picture of who's where.
Rear wing deflection test updated for next race in China this coming weekend.
Australia: deflection allowed with 75Kg load, 2mm
China: deflection allowed 0.75mm
Japan: deflection allowed 0.5mm
(Article 3.5.17 of the Tech Regs).
https://x.com/fia/status/1901630425094615204
That could cause problems for a few teams, it’s a big change and with very little time to implement.
Note that this is totally different to the front wing deflection test updated due to come into force from the Spanish GP.
Australia: deflection allowed with 75Kg load, 2mm
China: deflection allowed 0.75mm
Japan: deflection allowed 0.5mm
(Article 3.5.17 of the Tech Regs).
https://x.com/fia/status/1901630425094615204
That could cause problems for a few teams, it’s a big change and with very little time to implement.
Note that this is totally different to the front wing deflection test updated due to come into force from the Spanish GP.
Sandpit Steve said:
Rear wing deflection test updated for next race in China this coming weekend.
Australia: deflection allowed with 75Kg load, 2mm
China: deflection allowed 0.75mm
Japan: deflection allowed 0.5mm
(Article 3.5.17 of the Tech Regs).
https://x.com/fia/status/1901630425094615204
That could cause problems for a few teams, it’s a big change and with very little time to implement.
Note that this is totally different to the front wing deflection test updated due to come into force from the Spanish GP.
Red Bull bars! Ridiculous sudden implementation of new rules. There should be an allowance of some description to the cost cap that Red Bull (Bar) can ignore... Australia: deflection allowed with 75Kg load, 2mm
China: deflection allowed 0.75mm
Japan: deflection allowed 0.5mm
(Article 3.5.17 of the Tech Regs).
https://x.com/fia/status/1901630425094615204
That could cause problems for a few teams, it’s a big change and with very little time to implement.
Note that this is totally different to the front wing deflection test updated due to come into force from the Spanish GP.
PhilAsia said:
Red Bull bars! Ridiculous sudden implementation of new rules. There should be an allowance of some description to the cost cap that Red Bull (Bar) can ignore...
I can only assume that this was communicated to the teams some time ago, possibly after the Bahrain test. The timescale seems impossibly short to design and manufacture new components, then get them out to China by Thursday in time for scrutineering. The teams were kicking up enough of a stink over the front wing changes for which they were given more than three months’ notice, whereas this looks like it’s been done in three days!
Thanks for the thread PiaP, last weekend, a few shout at the TV moments, glad I recorded it and didn’t have to sit through the safety car periods (yes I know, not a true fan anymore for not watching live….. 
)
This weekend, let hope Ferrari adjust the communication levels, though it’s hard to see anything other than a McLaren lock out again, subject to the rear wing flex changes.
)This weekend, let hope Ferrari adjust the communication levels, though it’s hard to see anything other than a McLaren lock out again, subject to the rear wing flex changes.
Well Twitter appears to be full of Red Bull fans describing the rear wing TD as primarily a McLaren problem, possibly also a Mercedes problem.
Not sure how that stops the RB from eating its tyres as it did in Melbourne, but will be interesting to see if there’s less of a gap between the cars this weekend than last, at what will be a much more representative circuit than Melbourne.
Not sure how that stops the RB from eating its tyres as it did in Melbourne, but will be interesting to see if there’s less of a gap between the cars this weekend than last, at what will be a much more representative circuit than Melbourne.
Sandpit Steve said:
Well Twitter appears to be full of Red Bull fans describing the rear wing TD as primarily a McLaren problem, possibly also a Mercedes problem.
Not sure how that stops the RB from eating its tyres as it did in Melbourne, but will be interesting to see if there’s less of a gap between the cars this weekend than last, at what will be a much more representative circuit than Melbourne.
Yep, if it’s anything like Australia, Ferrari and Red Bull have to get on top of their tyre wear to fight McLaren for the win- I don’t think one lap pace is such an issue and qualifying will be super close again. Not sure how that stops the RB from eating its tyres as it did in Melbourne, but will be interesting to see if there’s less of a gap between the cars this weekend than last, at what will be a much more representative circuit than Melbourne.
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