Chinese GP 2024: What Is the Weather Forecast for the Shanghai International Circuit?

As we head back to the Chinese Grand Prix after a five-year hiatus, teams are prepping their cars for the first race weekend with a sprint race. The format for the Chinese Grand Prix is quite interesting, with only one free practice round before entering the sprints. The long gap between racing in Shanghai means that drivers have not raced at the venue and this might play a factor in it being an exciting race.

However, the one thing that could play spoilsport is the weather. Last race weekend in Japan saw a downpour of rain during the main race and considering this is another ecent in Asia, it’s best to know whether it’s time to carry an umbrella or enjoy the clear skies. That being said, here is what we know about the weather conditions during the Chinese Grand Prix.

Chinese Grand Prix: Weather forecast

Returning to China will be a nostalgic moment for many drivers and a first for some. Having a wet track during the race can lead to unexpected results as it might lead to drivers losing control over their vehicles during the race. The Chinese Grand Prix will span from April 19 to 21 and on day one, fans can expect a cloudy sky. The temperature will average at 20° C, which is 68° F and there is less than a 5% chance of precipitation. Fans can expect a little rain during the only free practice round and the sprint qualifying on Friday.

Saturday is where things get interesting as fans will get to experience the Sprint race and the qualifying in similar conditions as Friday, with less than 10% chance of precipitation. Temperatures during day two will average around 21°C/69.8°F. The race day on Sunday will be slightly cloudy with a decent breeze around the track. The highest temperature will likely revolve around 22°C or °71.6F. Having said that, race day will be more pleasant as there will be less than a 5% chance of precipitation.

Well, looks like spectators can heave a sigh of relief now. As the track is one where none of the drivers are well versed, the drivers would like to have all possible advantages on their end. That being said, Pirelli, the tire manufacturer has yet to scope the track to understand which tires will be best for the race.

Pirelli’s take on the Chinese Grand Prix

About the Chinese Grand Prix, Pirelli is quite concerned about the track as they are yet to see how the new 18-inch rims perform on it. The new regulations have brought about changes in how tires wear. For the Shanghai race, Pirelli is set to bring the same tire compounds as five years ago, namely, the C2 Hard, C3 Medium, and C4 Soft. Teams need to balance straight-line performance with cornering ability, considering the limited available data.

In case of rain, the standard wet tires will be deployed and drivers will have to get a feel of the track themselves. The best setup is yet to be decided and teams will make changes according to the results from the free practice and the sprint races. Hopefully, all the teams can perform on the returning track and the weather conditions will also work out. It is to be noted that the weather updates might change as we get closer to the weekend. We advise you to keep checking back to know if you need to keep your umbrellas handy!