Weather Chinese Grand Prix: unusual conditions for the first Sprint race of the season
A week after the Australian Grand Prix, drivers and teams arrive in Shanghai for the first Sprint race of the season. As the first laps get underway, all eyes turn to the sky. Set back a few weeks this year, temperatures in the country's largest city are normally cool at the end of March. Here's the full weekend weather report.
With the postponement of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to April due to Ramadan, China is exceptionally hosting its Grand Prix at the end of March this year. Originally held in September or October from 2004 to 2008, the event was subsequently scheduled in April from 2009 to 2019, before returning to this slot upon its comeback in 2024.
This shift in the calendar forces teams to adapt to typically cooler weather conditions, with a direct impact on tire management and the performance of the cars. Usually at the end of March, average maximum temperatures in Shanghai are around 14°C, well below the 21°C recorded on average at the end of April. Last year, drivers benefited from mild conditions, with temperatures ranging between 18 and 19°C, but this scenario is expected to be slightly different for the 2025 edition.
General situation
A vast anticyclone centered over the heart of the country is currently dictating weather conditions in East Asia, establishing a flow of dry and stable air over eastern China. This westerly to southwesterly wind pattern is promoting a significant rise in temperatures in the coming days. At this stage, no major depression is directly affecting Shanghai and its immediate region.
However, further east, over the Pacific Ocean, several low-pressure systems are active, notably near Japan, but without significant impact on Shanghai. The weather should remain calm and sunny in the coming days, with a possible increase in cloudiness starting from midday Sunday.
In Shanghai, the seasonal normals for the second half of March are as follows:
• Minimum temperatures: 6°C
• Maximum temperatures: 14°C
• Monthly precipitation: approximately 80 mm, with frequent showers
• Wind: generally moderate, often northerly with an average of 20 km/h
However, without speaking of a heatwave, the temperatures expected in the coming days will far exceed the seasonal averages, with highs that could reach 25°C on Saturday and Sunday!
Friday, March 21 – Free Practice 1 and Sprint Qualifying
Friday promises to be sunny in Shanghai, with clear skies from morning to evening. A southwesterly wind will gust up to 35 km/h in the afternoon.
Temperatures will fluctuate between 21°C and 23°C before falling to 10°C during the following night. Atmospheric pressure will remain stable, and no risk of rain is expected.
Saturday, March 22 – Sprint Race and Qualifications
The sun will continue to shine uninterrupted on Saturday, under a completely clear sky. The wind, this time from the west, will maintain gusts around 35 km/h.
Temperatures will rise slightly, reaching 23°C during the Sprint race (11 a.m. local time) and up to 25°C for the qualifications (3 p.m. local time). On the track, which has been completely resurfaced for this edition, the thermometer will show between 35°C and 39°C.
Sunday, March 23 – The Race
Sunday will begin under a partially cloudy sky, with the cloud cover slightly thickening in the afternoon. However, no risk of precipitation is expected for the race, which will start at 3 PM local time. The wind, still from the west, will blow moderately with gusts reaching around 25 km/h.
Regarding temperatures, it will be 25°C at the start of the race, which consists of 56 laps, with a slight decrease to 24°C by the end of the race. The track temperature will vary from 38°C at the start to 34°C by the end of the race. The humidity level, meanwhile, will remain low, around 30%.
