It has been a long five years since Formula 1 has raced at the Shanghai International Circuit for the Chinese Grand Prix. The COVID-19 pandemic kept F1 away from the venue due to government restrictions. But finally, the sound of 20 V6 engines roaring throughout the Chinese track will return on Sunday.
Much has changed in the F1 landscape since the series last raced here. So, here are a few of the key changes that the sport has seen since that last race in 2019.
2019 was a key season in the development for many of F1’s young stars today. Lando Norris, George Russell, and Alexander Albon were all participating in their third race as an F1 driver.
Norris was just starting out with McLaren, a team that was still struggling to find their footing in the V6 era. Norris finished 18th in the Chinese Grand Prix after getting involved in an incident. Despite this poor result, 2019 still ended up being a key year in the revitalization of McLaren. Norris has been there each step of the way, five years later finding himself as the face of the team.
Russell was driving for the lowly Williams team, which was struggling with their historically poor performing race-car. In the race, Russell at least managed to finish 16th, higher than his veteran teammate Robert Kubica. 5 years later, Russell is driving for Mercedes and has picked up a grand prix win along the way.
Albon was driving for Torro Rosso at the time, and brought home a single point in 10th for the team. The Thai driver has had a bumpy road since. After being promoted to a Red Bull seat later in 2019, he would lose his seat in F1 entirely following 2020. Albon has since rejoined the sport with Williams in 2022, and has helped form the team into a legitimate midfield contender. He will likely be a sought after free agent following 2024.
Charles Leclerc was not a rookie, but he was just three races into his time with Ferrari. Leclerc finished a solid fifth in the race, a step towards becoming the F1 superstar he is today.
Max Verstappen, who finished fourth, had five wins to his name at the time. He has only managed to add a mere 52 wins since.
There have been many changes to the teams since the last time F1 raced in China. Today’s Alpine was still Renault, sporting their shiny new toy in Daniel Ricciardo.
Aston Martin was known as Racing Point, with Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll racing for the team. Stroll is still with the team, but Perez, who had no wins at the time, has since left for Red Bull and picked up multiple victories.
2019 would serve as the final year for Red Bull’s B-team being known as Torro Rosso. A switch to AlphaTauri came in 2020, a name which has since been changed again to RB. The team’s purpose and footing in the field has still remained largely unchanged.
2019 was the year Mercedes started gapping themselves from the rest of the grid, and the Chinese Grand Prix was no exception. Lewis Hamilton and Valterri Bottas brought home a one-two for the team, a clear sign early in the year that Mercedes were the favorites to take the title yet again. Fast forward to 2024, and the team is struggling to keep their footing as a top contending team. Lewis Hamilton is halfway out the door, leaving for Ferrari next season.
Red Bull and Ferrari both found themselves in a close fight for second best. Sebastian Vettel finished behind the two Mercedes in China, a result that foreshadowed the rest of the 2019 season for himself and Ferrari. Vettel’s struggles began to take form that season, resulting in his departure from the team after 2020, and retirement after 2022.
A lot has changed since the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix. Stars have risen, others have fallen. Regardless, F1 back racing at the monumental Shanghai International Circuit restores a bit of normalcy to the F1 calendar.
This weekend, it will be good to be back.
Image courtesy of F1.com
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