The Shanghai International Circuit (), a.k.a. SAIC Shanghai International Circuit () for sponsorship purposes, is a motorsport race track, situated in the Jiading, Shanghai, China. The circuit is best known as the venue for the annual Chinese Grand Prix which was hosted from 2004 to 2019, and from 2024 onwards. Besides Chinese Grand Prix, the circuit also hosts Shanghai ePrix starting from 2024.

The Shanghai International Circuit features over 10 top-tier domestic car racing events annually. It also boasts Shanghai's only world-class outdoor go-karting track.

As a nationally recognized 4A-rated tourist attraction, the circuit features tourism, shopping, dining, entertainment, and sports.

The track was resurfaced ahead of the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix.

History Shanghai International Circuit was conceived by the Shanghai authorities as a way to showcase the city to the world. A 5.3 sq km site was chosen in the Jiading District in the north west of the city, close to major car parts manufacturing facilities and a budget of 2.6 billion yuan ($450 million) raised through a government-funded joint-venture company, the Shanghai Jiushi Group.

Herman Tilke was chosen to design the track and associated buildings, and between April and May 2003, engineers visited the site to draw up their plans. The site was actually a swampland, previously used as rice paddy fields, and extensive groundworks had to be completed to construct the circuit. For 18 months some 3,000 workers were on site daily to complete the facility – a remarkable feat of both engineering and logistics.

When it opened, visitors found a vast complex, dominated by the main grandstand and pit complex, which featured wing-like viewing platforms crossing the circuit at either end. This can hold 30,000 spectators alone, and others around the circuit take the total capacity to 200,000. Paddock facilities were also unique – each of the F1 teams had its own building, arranged like pavilions in a lake to resemble the ancient Yu Garden in Shanghai.

The Shanghai International Circuit is the first in China to be purpose-built for Formula One and it hosts FIA Formula One World Championship Chinese Grand Prix every year since 2004. The circuit also held a number of global high-profile series, including the FIA World Endurance Championship and the GT World Challenge Asia.

In the past, the circuit has hosted the MotoGP world championship, and a one-off V8 Supercars China Round of the Australian-based V8 Supercar championship in 2005, and also the final round of the A1 Grand Prix in 2006/2007.

In 2011, the Shanghai International Circuit signed a sponsorship deal with Audi and was subsequently named the Shanghai Audi International Circuit and the SAIC International Circuit following a deal with SAIC Motor.

Layout

The track layout was inspired from the Chinese character , the first character in the name of the city Shanghai, meaning "above" or "ascend".

The start of the lap includes tightening Turns 1 and 2,before drivers dart through 3 and 4. It also includes a super-high g force Turns 7 and 8, while the circuit also features one of the longest straights on the calendar, the stretch that separates turns 13 and 14.

A lap in a Formula One car

The first two bends make a right-hand curve which leads immediately into turns 3 and 4 taken at . One and two are far more difficult – a lift on entry followed by various taps of the throttle and brakes are needed so the car maintains balance throughout. It also becomes blind towards the middle of the corner. Three and four are less complicated, with three being a simple hairpin, but a good exit is needed from four to gain speed down the following straight and through turn 5. The complex of turns 1–4 makes up the first of two "snails" on the circuit, the other being turns 11–13. Turn 6 is a second gear, right-handed hairpin with plentiful run-off. Turns 7 and 8 make up a high speed chicane – the left-right complex sees a constant G-force of 3 and a minimum speed of about . Turns 9 and 10 immediately follow – two slow left-handers which require a good exit to gain speed down the next straight. Turns 11 and 12 effectively make up a slow left-right chicane where the use of kerbs are important but traction is low. Turn 13 is a very long right-hander which becomes less and less tight, and a very good exit is important as it leads onto a long straight where overtaking opportunities can arise. At , it is the equivalent to 11 football pitches laid end to end, or the same length as three and a half of the world's biggest aircraft carriers Turn 14 is a tight hairpin at the end of the straight – this second-gear corner is a prime overtaking spot, with drivers often making their move under heavy braking at the end of the long run. Turn 16 is the last corner – a fourth-gear left-hander which requires a quick tap on the brakes – braking early can be more effective as you can then carry more speed through the corner and then down the pit straight.

Events

Current

March: Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, F1 Academy, SRO GT Cup, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia April: TCR China Touring Car Championship, TCR China Challenge, F4 Chinese Championship, China GT Championship July: Formula E Shanghai ePrix September: Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, TCR China Touring Car Championship, TCR China Challenge, China GT Championship, Shanghai 8 Hours November: GT World Challenge Asia, SRO GT Cup

Future

Superbike World Championship (2027) Supersport World Championship (2027)

Former

A1 Grand Prix (2006–2008) Asian Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Shanghai (2014, 2018–2019) Aston Martin Asia Cup (2008–2009) Audi R8 LMS Cup (2012–2019) China Formula Grand Prix (2015–2019) F3 Asian Championship (2018–2019) Ferrari Challenge Asia-Pacific (2011–2019) FIA World Endurance Championship 4 Hours of Shanghai (2012–2019) Formula BMW Pacific (2004–2008) Formula Masters Series (2011–2017) Formula Renault AsiaCup (2004–2011, 2013–2018) Formula V6 Asia (2008) Grand Prix motorcycle racing Chinese motorcycle Grand Prix (2005–2008) GP2 Asia Series (2008) GT Asia Series (2014–2017) Superrace Championship (2014–2016) TCR Asia Series (2016–2019, 2021, 2025) TCR International Series (2015) Trofeo Maserati (2012–2014) V8 Supercars V8 Supercars China Round (2005) World Touring Car Championship FIA WTCC Race of China (2012–2016)

Lap records The total length of the circuit is , which is about average for a Formula One circuit. Michael Schumacher's official race lap record of 1:32.238 has stood since 2004. In Q3 of the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri qualified on pole position with a time of 1:30.641, a new unofficial track record. As of September 2026, the fastest official race lap records at the Shanghai International Circuit are listed as:

Category Record Circuit length Circuit layout Driver/Rider Vehicle Date Formula One 1:32:238 Michael Schumacher Ferrari F2004 26 September 2004 LMP1 1:45.892 Sébastien Buemi Toyota TS050 Hybrid 2017 5 November 2017 GP2 Asia 1:46.407 Kamui Kobayashi Dallara GP2/05 18 October 2008 LMP2 1:51.793 Bruno Senna Oreca 07 Gibson 5 November 2017 A1 Grand Prix 1:52.508 Alex Yoong Lola A1GP 2 April 2006 GT3 1:59.643 Deng Yi Porsche 911 (992 II) GT3 R 18 April 2026 LMP3 2:00.638 Mathias Beche Ligier JS P3 27 August 2017 LM GTE 2:00.948 Kévin Estre Porsche 911 RSR-19 10 November 2019 Formula Regional 2:01.440 Daniel Cao Tatuus F3 T-318 27 September 2019 Ferrari Challenge 2:02.728 Zhang Yaqi Ferrari 296 Challenge 6 September 2026 Lamborghini Super Trofeo 2:02.994 Jonathan Cecotto Lamborghini Huracán Super Trofeo Evo2 18 May 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup 2:03.497 Luo Kailuo Porsche 911 (992 II) Cup 15 March 2026 Formula 4 2:04.580 Chloe Chambers Tatuus F4-T421 22 March 2025 Formula Renault 2.0 2:04.675 Daniel Cao Tatuus FR2.0/13 29 April 2018 GT4 2:10.489 Lu Wenlong Lotus Emira GT4 23 March 2025 TCR Touring Car 2:10.712 Zhang Zhendong Hyundai Elantra N TCR 26 April 2025 Formula BMW 2:12.155 Michael Patrizi Mygale FB02 16 October 2005 MotoGP 1:59.273 Valentino Rossi Yamaha YZR-M1 4 May 2008 250cc 2:05.738 Jorge Lorenzo Aprilia RSW 250 6 May 2007 125cc 2:12.131 Álvaro Bautista Aprilia RS 125 R 14 May 2006 A1 Grand Prix 1:35.177 Robert Wickens Lola A1GP 13 April 2008 Formula Renault 2.0 1:48.325 Leopold Ringbom Tatuus FR2000 23 October 2011 TC1 1:50.833 Ma Qinghua Citroën C-Elysée WTCC 12 October 2014 V8 Supercars 1:51.0557 Todd Kelly Holden VZ Commodore 12 June 2005 Super 2000 1:54.947 Alain Menu Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T 4 November 2012 TCR Touring Car 1:59.143 Huang Chuhan Audi RS 3 LMS TCR (2017) 5 August 2017 Formula Renault 3.5 2:01.581 Kevin Chen Tatuus FRV6 23 November 2008 Porsche Carrera Cup 2:02.2892 Siu Tit Lung Porsche 911 (997 I) GT3 Cup 12 June 2005 Formula E 1:10.564 Nick Cassidy Jaguar I-Type 7 31 May 2025

Gallery

References

External links

Shanghai International Circuit at 51gt3.com Shanghai International Circuit | JUSSEVENT Shanghai International Circuit at Official Formula 1 website Map and circuit history at RacingCircuits.info Ciro Pabón's Racetracks 3D views and virtual laps of all F1 circuits, including this one, via Google Earth Shanghai International Circuit on Google Maps (Current Formula 1 Tracks)