Pirelli flags potential pivotal factor ahead of Chinese GP weekend

The Shanghai International Circuit has historically been one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar when it comes to tyre wear. Its layout features several long, sweeping corners that place sustained lateral loads on the tyres, while the track surface - fully resurfaced in 2024 - is known to promote significant thermal degradation.

For the weekend, the compounds available will be the C2, C3 and C4, covering the hard, medium and soft tyres respectively.

“The new asphalt significantly increased grip, consequently reducing lap times. However, the smoother surface generated graining in 2025, particularly on the front axle, which became a limiting factor that year, especially during the Sprint. The phenomenon, however, diminished in intensity on Sunday thanks to track evolution,” Pirelli said.

According to the Italian manufacturer, lap times should remain broadly similar to those seen last year, despite the cars being significantly slower overall - as already shown in Melbourne - with the various SM expected to compensate for the loss of straight-line speed caused by super clipping.

The Chinese Grand Prix weekend is shaping up to be a fascinating one, not only to see whether the competitive order from Australia holds up, but also because it will host the first of the season’s six Sprint events.

As was the case in Melbourne, European fans will once again have to contend with some late-night sessions, although Sprint Qualifying, Saturday’s qualifying and Sunday’s race are scheduled at slightly more manageable times compared to last weekend.