Presentation – Chinese GP: In Search of a Triple for Sebastian Vettel
After two victories conceded to Vettel, Hamilton intends to stop his rival's momentum in Shanghai. The German has had two perfect weekends while the Briton has been let down twice. On a track where Mercedes hasn't lost since 2014 and where Vettel has only won once, the turnaround seems ideally poised to happen in China.

« Shanghai is a very technical track, turns 1 and 2 are incredible and demanding on the front tires but if you can manage that, the race should go well. I haven’t been on the podium here yet, but it has always been a circuit where I was fast, and we have a good chance with the car we have. »
In your opinion, which driver capable of making it to the podium this season – if we dismiss the “too optimistic” ones – and who hasn’t done so yet is the author of this week’s race quote? Before answering, a quick look at the characteristics of the Shanghai circuit.
The circuit stands out with numerous long, demanding corners that put a heavy strain on the front end and the tires. The T1-T2 sequence mentioned by the Red Bull driver – a bit of patience if you’re still hesitating – in deceleration, and the T7 and T8 corners at full throttle require very precise tuning to ensure the front of the car sticks to the road. The T12-T13 corners are also a challenge as they involve low-speed acceleration; a good setup of the rear end, the differential, and a gentle management of the throttle will make all the difference for the very long back straight.
All of this put together should ensure a good chance of a podium finish for Daniel Ricciardo on Sunday, who secured a fourth place last year, less than a second behind Max Verstappen.
The tour of the owner
Time to make our way from yesterday’s #BahrainGP 🇧🇭to this weekend’s #ChineseGP 🇨🇳 and FYI we’ve added a Purple #PZero to the #Fit4F1 line up!
Find out why: https://t.co/IqmVERxkdC pic.twitter.com/j4TvEj2GdA— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) 9 avril 2018
For posterity
With the evolution of regulations, making aerodynamics very-too important, overtaking has become rare. This weekend, thanks to the DRS system, Lewis Hamilton executed a triple overtake. Twelve years ago, his former McLaren teammate, Jenson Button, also completed a triple overtake on the Chinese circuit, without any aid that time.
The 2006 edition, the second Chinese Grand Prix, was also a landmark event. At the end of a race held in mixed conditions due to rainy episodes, Michael Schumacher secured his final victory in Formula 1.
Tarmac and mistral
We haven’t even landed for the #BahrainGP and we’re already unveiling the #ChineseGP #Fit4F1 sets.
— Pirelli Motorsport (@pirellisport) 3 avril 2018
Pirelli’s decision to skip a range – the super-soft – and not bring a triptych of consecutive ranges to broaden strategic options does not convince Mercedes. The Brackley team opted for a conservative approach, bringing as many soft tires as ultra-soft tires. In contrast, the direct competitor from Maranello brought two additional sets of purple tires and thus two fewer sets of soft tires.
Let the teams be reassured, their respective biases on the choice of tires for the weekend will be minimized by a capricious weather. Already greatly disrupted in 2017, the practice sessions will not be an exception this year. The first and last practice sessions should thus take place in the rain with temperatures near 15-16°C and winds ranging around 20-22km/h.
The second practice session and qualifying should take place in dry conditions, with similar temperatures and winds. The most ideal conditions will be for the race, with more sunshine, temperatures around 20°C, and lighter winds.
The TV program!