F1
Daniel Ricciardo embraces tradition during a tour of the Shanghai International Circuit.
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Built on swampland previously used as rice paddy fields, the location of the Chinese F1 Grand Prix is a remarkable feat of engineering and logistics.
It took 3,000 workers 18 months to complete the Shanghai International Circuit which has been in use since 2004 and has a capacity of 200,000.
Using Carrera slot cars, track and accessories, we've recreated the circuit which is inspired by the Chinese ‘shang’ symbol, putting together this miniature guide with Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo in the driving seat.
Referencing Chinese exports including paper, acupuncture, porcelain, the umbrella and kung fu, the Australian racing driver takes us around the scaled-down circuit with the help of slot cars and a willow pattern map of the track.
The complex, in the Jiading district in the north-west of the city, is vast with a main grandstand, the pit and viewing platforms which cross the circuit at either end, dominating the grounds.
There is a nod to the circuit’s former life as reclaimed marshland around the paddock facilities.
In the frenetic world of such a high-octane sport, designer Hermann Tilke tried to emulate the tranquillity of the ancient Yuyan-Garden in Shanghai and each F1 team has its own building arranged like pavilions in a lake.
The course is twisty and demanding and includes a number of complex turns, four of which can ruin a driver's lap before they’ve started and two which throw the cars on to the longest straight in F1.
As well as being the scene of Red Bull Racing's first victory (a one-two in 2009) is also a breeding ground for World Champions with both Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton winning the Grands Prix title in the same year as they claimed victories at the track.
The circuit is defined by two ‘snails’ at the beginning and the end of a lap. So if you’re wondering why a mollusc appears on your screen midway through our guide, there’s your answer.