2007 CHINESE GRAND PRIX PREVIEW
The penultimate race of the 2007 Formula 1 World Championship
takes place this coming weekend at the Shanghai International
Circuit.
This year will mark the fourth running of the Chinese Grand
Prix, which due to its positioning towards the end of the
season, has often seen exciting racing as Championship battles
are drawn to a close.
With two races remaining and 20 World Championship points
to be won, Lewis Hamilton has 107 Drivers’ World Championship
points, 12 ahead of Fernando Alonso, who has 95. Kimi Raikkonen
lies in third place with 90 points. Lewis’s win in Japan
saw him become the first driver in the history of Formula
1 to reach the 100 point mark in only 15 races.
Following this weekend’s race, Formula 1 will travel
to Interlagos for the final race of the season. The Brazilian
Grand Prix takes place on Sunday 21st October.
FAST FACTS
Where will the repairs take place to Fernando’s
car prior to the Chinese race?
As the Japanese and Chinese Grands Prix are back to back
races, a replacement chassis (MP4-22 01) was despatched from
the McLaren Technology Centre on Sunday 30th September for
China. This chassis will become the spare, with Fernando using
the spare chassis from Japan as his race car (MP4-22 03).
Fernando’s damaged car was sent back due to significant
damage to the chassis, which is not reparable at the track.
When was the Shanghai International Circuit constructed?
The circuit was purpose developed for the first Chinese Grand
Prix in 2004, taking 18 months to build. Located to the northeast
of Shanghai, it is located near Anting Town in the Jiading
district. The venue covers an area of just over 2.5 square
kilometres and was designed to create dramatic racing and
to provide first class facilities for the teams and spectators.
The track was modelled on the Chinese symbol ‘Shang’,
which represents ‘above’ or ‘high’.
Prior to the opening of the track International racing in
the People’s Republic of China was focused on street
circuits. The most recent example was the first international
race in Shanghai itself in July of 2004, when the DTM series
took to the streets of the city centre.
Why is the Chinese Grand Prix important for Mercedes-Benz?
Not only is China one of the most important markets for automobiles
worldwide; the Grand Prix in Shanghai is also of great importance
as DaimlerChrysler has been manufacturing models of the Mercedes-Benz
E-Class in China since December 2005. In addition, DaimlerChrysler
opened a new plant there one year ago, which is able to produce
up to 25,000 Mercedes-Benz E- and C-Class cars per year.
TEAM QUOTES
Fernando Alonso
"My retirement in Japan has not made it easy for me in
the Championship, but there are still 20 points to be won
and I am going to fight hard for each one of them. There is
always a lot of talk of pressure and distractions at this
time of the year, all I think about is racing and winning
at Shanghai and Interlagos. We are all focused on this aim
and giving the maximum over the next few weeks. I like to
race at the Shanghai circuit, it is new but it has character,
although I have mixed memories from the track. Last year was
a frustrating race, whereas in 2005 I won. I hope to repeat
this result this weekend! The track is very wide and has been
designed to allow overtaking. Slipstreaming along the main
back straight and then passing into the first corner is one
of the main chances. You have to make sure you have as much
momentum as possible when you exit turn 13, so mechanical
grip is as important as making sure we have a competitive
top speed."
Lewis Hamilton
"We are going into these races with a really tight Drivers’
battle with only 12 points between me and Fernando. Anything
is still possible but I am feeling confident and very determined
and I hope we will have another couple of exciting races.
There has been a lot of talk over the last couple of days
about the Championship, but I just push that to the back of
my mind. I am only focused on the next two races and doing
the best I can in China and Brazil with the team. The last
two races of this season are at tracks that I have not ever
been to before. I don’t see that as a problem, as this
has been the case on four occasions already this season, at
Melbourne, Montreal, Indy and Fuji and I was on the podium
at all these races. From what I understand of the Shanghai
circuit, it is very vast in comparison with Interlagos, so
we will probably have two quite different races. Everything
is too tight for me to predict what will happen, but the races
in China always seem to be exciting and I feel well prepared
to take on the challenge."
Martin Whitmarsh, CEO Formula 1, Vodafone McLaren
Mercedes
"To have both Lewis and Fernando going into the final
two races of the season with an opportunity to win the World
Championship is a fantastic situation for the team. Whilst
Lewis is clearly in a stronger position, it is by no means
over for Fernando and we are going to have two very motivated
drivers in China. Japan was the first race where two Vodafone
McLaren Mercedes cars did not take the chequered flag. This
demonstrates the competitiveness of the team this season,
and we aim to maintain that level of performance this weekend
in China."
Norbert Haug, Vice President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"The Chinese Grand Prix has a lot of challenging aspects
for the team. In Shanghai, Lewis will be able to win the World
Championship; however, on the other side if he can produce
the appropriate result Fernando will be able to reverse the
situation and to keep his title hopes alive until the final
race in Brazil. Of course, we always have to watch out for
Kimi who still has the chance to clinch the World Championship
title. The team members will go into this possibly decisive
Grand Prix as focussed as into the previous 15 races, and
they will do everything to ensure both Lewis and Fernando
will have the best opportunities to win. Prior to the 16th
Grand Prix of the year the World Championship is still exciting
and open, although Lewis now has a significant advantage after
he won in Fuji last weekend whilst Fernando retired. Both
the drivers will have the same equipment and support; we obviously
hope that the Formula 1 World Championship will be decided
on the track under the same conditions - tough, fair and without
crashes."
CHINESE GRAND PRIX INFORMATION
Circuit length 5.451km / 3.387 miles
Race distance 305.066km / 189.568 miles
Laps 56
Number of corners 16
Inaugural Formula 1 Grand Prix 2004
2007 Drivers’ World Championship
Lewis Hamilton 107
Fernando Alonso 95
Kimi Raikkonen 90
Felipe Massa 80
Nick Heidfeld 56
Robert Kubica 35
Heikki Kovalainen 30
Giancarlo Fisichella 21
Nico Rosberg 15
Alex Wurz 13
David Coulthard 13
Mark Webber 10
Jarno Trulli 7
Ralf Schumacher 5
Takuma Sato 4
Jenson Button 2
Sebastian Vettel 1
Adrian Sutil 1
2007 Constructors’ World Championship
Ferrari 170
BMW Sauber 92
Renault 51
WilliamsF1 28
Red Bull 23
Toyota 12
Super Aguri 4
Honda 2
SpykerF1 1
|
