Chinese Grand Prix

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The Formula 1 spectacle returns to China after a hiatus of five years, marking the staging of the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix this weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Due to pandemic-related travel constraints, the customary yearly event has faced rescheduling and eventual cancellation over the past half-decade. Consequently, this year's race, constituting the fifth round of the 2024 season, signifies the inaugural occasion for Chinese racer Zhou Guanyu, now in his third F1 season, to vie on his native turf.

Spanning 3.4 miles, the Shanghai International Circuit boasts 16 turns and is distinguished by rapid bends, a sleek tarmac, and ample opportunities for overtaking. With approximately 80% of the circuit demanding cornering maneuvers, tire endurance becomes a pressing concern, thereby accentuating the significance of strategic planning. Pirelli has designated its intermediate C2, C3, and C4 compounds for the race.

An inherent challenge lies in the circuit's construction atop reclaimed marshlands. This situation heightens the risk of subsurface ground shifts, necessitating measures to address and refurbish sections prone to unevenness, thereby enhancing track stability.

Even though there was moderate rain at the beginning of the practice, the track was dry enough for slicks, and Red Bull's Sergio Perez set the fastest in 1m36.110s on the required medium tires, more than a quarter of a second ahead of Norris.

Similar like during free practice, just as the session was coming to a finish, sparks from the vehicles ignited the grass along the track.

The Alpines of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, Alex Albon (Williams), Yuki Tsunoda (RB), and Logan Sargeant (Williams) all fell at the first hurdle.

This unique Formula 1 prediction model was created by SportsLine predictive data engineer and daily fantasy pro Mike McClure. It simulates every race 10,000 times while accounting for past performance and circuit history. It has a great track record in motorsports; since the 2021 season, it has properly predicted nine NASCAR victories, and its projected leaderboards have predicted winners in a variety of racing styles.

When it comes to selecting Formula 1 racing events going back to 2021, the model has been blazing hot. It correctly predicted both of Charles Leclerc's victories in 2022, and Verstappen was the model's clear favorite in the Mexican Grand Prix in 2021. The outcome: Verstappen surprised everyone by dominating the field and winning handily.

After that, the model correctly predicted Verstappen's victory in the Rolex Emilia Romagna GP in April. Verstappen went on to win further races in Belgium, the Netherlands, Japan, the US, Mexico, and Abu Dhabi. Additionally, it correctly predicted all 19 of Verstappen's victories in the 2023 campaign and all three of the reigning champion's victories to begin the 2024 campaign. On those plays, everyone who followed the model's lead has realized significant profits.

One unexpected finding is that, despite being one of the top favorites at +1200, the model is fading Sainz and forecasts he won't even finish on the podium. With a victory in Australia and three podium finishes in four races, Sainz has had a fantastic start to the year. He has made five prior starts in China, but he is still looking for success there. The Spaniard's average result throughout nine outings is only 10.4, meaning he hasn't finished higher than seventh in any of those races.

at the meantime, Sainz's Ferrari squad used to be the best at the Chinese Grand Prix. Three different drivers took home the wins in the first four Formula One races from China. Nevertheless, in the previous twelve races in the Chinese GP, Ferrari has only claimed one victory in Shanghai. When you consider that Sainz has never taken the lead during any of his five prior outings at the Shanghai International Circuit, such outcomes don't give the third favorite much hope going into the week.