Formula 1 is back at Shanghai International Circuit for the first time since 2019! Here’s everything you need to know ahead of attending the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix on April 19-21.
It’s hard to believe that it has been five years since Formula 1 last visited Shanghai. Last time F1 raced here – at the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix – Lewis Hamilton took victory as the sport celebrated its 1,000th World Championship event.
Five years on, Max Verstappen heads to Shanghai very much in control of the Drivers’ Championship in the all-conquering RB20. With the track having not been on the calendar since 2019, Shanghai International Circuit is one of few on the current schedule at which Verstappen has never previously taken victory.
Verstappen will be hoping to add a 26th different venue to his winning collection at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, while the chasing pack will be doing their best to keep up with the Red Bull. That chasing pack includes Zhou Guanyu, who will become the first Chinese driver to race on home soil in Formula 1.
Heading to China for the first time? All the essential travel information you need can be found in Travel Basics.
The First Sprint of the Year
In 2024, F1 heads to China for the fifth round of its season and the first Sprint weekend of the year. The Sprint format had not been established last time F1 was here in 2019. The 2024 Chinese Grand Prix will see the first deployment of the latest variation of the Sprint schedule.
This year, Sprint Qualifying will take place after a single hour of Free Practice on Friday afternoon, before the Sprint itself takes place on Saturday morning. Attention then switches to the main event, with Qualifying on Saturday afternoon to set the grid for the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix which follows, as usual, on Sunday.
The Cheapest Tickets Of The 2024 Season
Tickets for the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix have been hard to come by for international visitors, having not gone on sale until January this year. The majority of tickets for the race are sold out, with F1 Experiences ticket packages having sold out one month prior to the event.
The Chinese Grand Prix ranks as the cheapest F1 race to attend in the 2024 season, with the average cost of 3-day ticket prices coming in at just under $200 USD. At just $67, General Admission tickets are the cheapest offered at any of this year’s 2024 races, while the cheapest 3-day grandstand seats can be found in Grandstands H and K, priced at $208 – the fifth cheapest of the year.
While tickets are cheap for fans travelling from abroad, the race is one of the more expensive in relative terms for local fans to attend – which helps to explain the decline in attendance figures at the Chinese Grand Prix in previous seasons. Tickets cost 22% of the average monthly wage in Shanghai – the sixth largest percentage of the 24 races on the 2024 calendar.
160,000 fans attended over the three days of the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix weekend, which is said to have sold out two months before the race took place. Tickets have been in similarly high demand this year – perhaps thanks to local driver Zhou Guanyu’s presence on the grid – so the attendance figure should be at a similar, if not higher, level.
How Much Will a Trip to the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix Cost?
We estimate that the average fan will spend around $545 USD on a trip to this year’s Chinese Grand Prix. That price includes a 3-day grandstand seat, a 3 night stay in a hotel in central Shanghai, plus daily spending money.
Getting to Shanghai International Circuit
Shanghai International Circuit is located 35km from downtown Shanghai and is well linked by major highways. The easiest way to travel from the city centre to the track is to use the metro, while taxi, private car or shuttle bus are other viable options. If travelling by road, be prepared to be caught up in the race weekend traffic.
Make sure you’ve planned your journey ahead of the event! Read up on the best ways to get to the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix in our detailed transport guide.
Trackside at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix
As we’ve already mentioned, the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix is host to the first Sprint race of the season, meaning trackside fans get an extra slice of on-track racing on Saturday. Aside from the Formula 1 action, there will be further racing from the FIA F4 Championship and the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia Championship, both of which will race twice.
It’s worth noting that, in previous years, the circuit has operated a Free Friday policy, meaning that you can watch the action from any grandstand of your choosing. Sadly, since 2019, other circuits on the calendar have discontinued similar policies – but hopefully Shanghai will be an exception!
In previous years, there has been a lack of variety in food and drink choices at the track, as well as a limited offering of merchandise. Fingers crossed that this has changed for 2024.
For more details on gate opening times, the on-track timetable, prohibited items and more tips to get the most out of your visit, check out our trackside guide to the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix.
Away From the Track at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix
The Chinese Grand Prix takes place at the Shanghai International Circuit, located in the sprawling suburbs of Shanghai, the most-populated city in the world. The circuit seems as futuristic now as it did when it first appeared on the calendar, with its imposing grandstand and pit complex, paired with the twisting nature of the track – which often allows for great wheel-to-wheel action!
Shanghai’s population has grown by over ten million since Formula 1 first visited the track in 2004. The city is a multicultural metropolis, and there are activities to cater for everyone in Shanghai itself and the surrounding area.
We’ve rounded up the best places to visit on your Chinese Grand Prix trip, from the famous Bund to sampling Shanghai’s nightlife, in Off-Track Activities.
Hello! I am flying to shanghai tomorrow by myself to attend the Chinese GP! Only problem is, tickets have been sold out on the official F1 site and I am still in need of just one ticket! Do you know of any way to still get a ticket or of any resell websites? Any input would be greatly appreciated! I would be so devastated to fly all the way to China and not be able to get inside the circuit :(