Beaten by 40 minutes, I feel so insulted! Thanks for picking up Usernamed. Mind if I still do my thing?
China has thrown an awful lot of dedication into this circuit. Indeed it took over 3000 workmen about 20 months working 24 hours a day (in 8 hour rotational shifts) to complete the circuit. Unlike Bahrain, China was ready far ahead of schedule and has subsequently been fine-tuning all aspects of the circuit. Testament to this, Gerhard Berger was the first man to drive a Formula 1 car around the circuit in a display event of Michael Schumacher's championship winning F2003-GA.
The track can hold 50000 spectators and was designed by German architect Hermann Tilke, the man behind Sepang Malaysia and Bahrain. Just like those circuits, China is wide, and features a significant variety of fast and slow corners with two large straights. Cars will be hitting 330km/h on the back straight before braking down to 80km/h for the hairpin that leads the cars back towards the home straight. The layout resembles the Chinese symbol for the word 'high/above', part of the name Shanghai. The architecture is quite distinct, from the small lake with heavily glass villas that will hold the teams throughout the weekend, to the back stands covered in lotus-leaf inspired roofs. Far and away the most interesting aspect are the twin wings at either end of the start/finish straight. 140m wide they will house VIPs and media personnel.
Ferrari go to China undoubtedly high on their fantastic win in Italy. Their testing last week was consistent if not spectacular, and overshadowed by the return of Ralf Schumacher and Jacques Villeneuve to the track. However, Ferrari were the first to master the other new circuit of the year at Bahrain, and will be hoping to win the first Chinese GP as well. Meanwhile, Bernie Ecclestone has accused Ferrari of being selfish in how they go about winning Formula 1, and suggested were Ayrton Senna still alive, Schumacher wouldn't have been anywhere near as successful. Pardon me for finding that a bit ironic from a man who takes more of the television revenue of Formula 1 than all 10 teams put together.
Williams had a reasonable showing in Monza and will welcome the return of Ralf Schumacher after nearly 3 months of absence. The German was quickly back in the saddle in testing at Silverstone, and will be hoping to return with a bang - but not from his engine.
McLaren had a somewhat dismal Monza after a lot of early promise, but they never stop believing, and Raikkonen unofficially shattered the lap record at Silverstone last week, so they will once again be a force to be reckoned with.
Renault will sport the return of former world champion Jacques Villeneuve, having bade fairwell to Jarno Trulli, who moves to Toyota. The Canadian took some settling in at the Silverstone test but was soon right back on the pace. Flavio Briatore will be hoping to snatch back second place in the constructor's race from BAR
BAR meanwhile remain in the dark over the status of their star driver for next season, with the Contract Renegotiation Board having delayed its decision on which team (Williams or BAR) holds the rights to the Briton. The team will have other things on its mind, having finally overhauled a flailing Renault for second in the constructors championship.
Jaguar and Minardi remain under a cloud, one team about to be sold, the other again struggling for funding and now also an engine supplier for 2005. Paul Stoddart is going to the length of selling half his collection of old Formula 1 cars to keep funding the team, with almost 40 antique race cars set to be auctioned, in the hope of raising $7 million.
First practice kicks off in just under 4 hours, so here's to a great Chinese GP.
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