Trackside at Shanghai Circuit – 2026 Chinese Grand Prix

The full on-track schedule and more useful information for fans attending the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai Circuit

2026 China Tickets / F1 Experiences / Shanghai Hotels / Chinese GP Facebook group

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix takes place on March 13-15

Tickets are now on sale (December 11, 2025)

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Shanghai’s circuit is an impressive facility, capable of accommodating around 200,000 fans. The 2019 Chinese Grand Prix made history as the 1000th Formula 1 race since the advent of the modern World Championship in 1950 and was a sell out for the first time since the inaugural race in 2004. China finally returned to the F1 calendar in 2024 after a five year absence due to the pandemic. Tickets for the race are snapped up very quickly by local fans, though recent editions of the race have not run at anywhere near the circuit’s capacity of up to 200,000 fans per day. It’s been confirmed that the F1 Sprint format will return at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix.

Shanghai Circuit: Access & Orientation

For more information on getting to the track, read the Getting There & Around section of this guide. If you have taken the metro to the circuit as we recommend, getting inside the circuit after you have alighted at the Shanghai Circuit metro stop is easy and the way is well signposted. The closest entrance is through Gate 1, behind the main grandstand. Gate 11 (behind grandstand K) is also just a few minutes walk from the metro station.

Need to Know: Shanghai International Circuit

Check Weather Forecast: Rain is common in Shanghai on race weekend. Don’t forget to check the weather forecast and be prepared before heading to the track, even if you have seats in one of the covered grandstands

Entry Restrictions (Prohibited Items): Long-handled umbrellas, flagpoles, unmanned aerial vehicles, public address equipment, unauthorized professional photographic equipment and triangular brackets are amongst the prohibited items at Shanghai Circuit. Entry restrictions are TBC for 2025.

Track Invasion: Fans have not been allowed on to the track after recent editions of the Chinese GP. If you don’t want to miss the podium celebrations after the race, you will need to have a seat in the Main grandstand.

Taking the Metro: The metro can get very congested, particularly when leaving the circuit on Sunday after the race. Be patient or stay a little longer to avoid the peak crowds.

2026 Chinese Grand Prix Schedule

On-Track Schedule: The full on-track timetable for the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix has been confirmed by Formula 1 and is listed below.

Sprint Race: After hosting an F1 Sprint in each of the last two seasons, it’s been confirmed that the F1 Sprint will return to China in 2026

Support Categories: F1 Academy will race at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, staging the first round of its 2026 season. Porsche Carrera Cup is also back on the schedule in 2026, as is the SRO GT Cup.

Pit Lane Walk: Recent editions of the Chinese Grand Prix have not featured a pit lane walk on Thursday for regular ticket holders. Selected packages from F1 Experiences include an Exclusive Pit Lane Walk and Guided Track Tour on Friday after the conclusion of track activity. Guests in the F1 Paddock Club can take part in daily pit lane walks on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Friday

08:20-08:45: SRO GT Cup – Greater Bay Area GT Cup – First Practice Session

09:10-09:50: F1 Academy – Practice Session

11:30-12:30: Formula 1 – Free Practice 1

12:55-13:40: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – Practice Session

14:05-14:35: F1 Academy – Qualifying Session

15:30-16:14: Formula 1 – Sprint Qualifying

17:00-17:25: SRO GT Cup – Greater Bay Area GT Cup – Second Practice Session

Saturday

08:15-08:40: SRO GT Cup – Greater Bay Area GT Cup – Qualifying Session

09:10-09:40: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – Qualifying Session

11:00-11:30: Formula 1 – Sprint Race (19 laps or 60 minutes)

12:25-13:00: SRO GT Cup – Greater Bay Area GT Cup – First Race (13 Laps, or 30 minutes + 1 Lap)

13:45-14:20: F1 Academy – First Race (30 minutes + 1 lap)

15:00-16:00: Formula 1 – Qualifying

16:55-17:30: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – First Race (13 Laps or 30 minutes)

18:20-19:20: F1 Experiences Champions Club – Grid Walk & Trophy Photo

Sunday

09:10-09:45: SRO GT Cup – Greater Bay Area GT Cup – Second Race (30 minutes + 1 Lap)

10:40-11:15: F1 Academy – Second Race (13 Laps, or 30 minutes + 1 lap)

11:55-12:30: Porsche Carrera Cup Asia – Second Race (13 laps or 30 minutes)

13:00-13:30: Formula 1 – Drivers’ Parade

14:44-14:46: National Anthem

15:00-17:00: Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2026 (56 laps or 2 hours)

Shanghai Circuit Facilities

The trackside facilities are generally good. Food and drink is not expensive by F1 standards, though fans have complained about both the lack of choice and the fact that there are just not enough places to buy food and drink. The situation was improved in 2024 when a secondary area was available (closer to the circuit’s metro station) that offered a much better choice of food and drink options. At the concessions behind each of the grandstands, a 500ml Heineken draft beer cost 40 RMB ($5.50 USD), soft drinks and water cost 10 RMB ($1.40 USD). Meals were priced from 15-40 RMB. See below for prices and available food and drink.

This lack of choice also applies to merchandise; there is a limited offer in China. For circuit-specific merchandise, there’s a shop on the ground level of Grandstand A, closer to the last corner end of the grandstand. All of the grandstands at Shanghai International Circuit are permanent structures and there’s ample toilets on the ground level. In the larger Grandstand A, there’s also additional toilets on several levels of the grandstand. First aid points are also located in Grandstand A. Additional temporary toilets (clean and high standard) are available throughout the fan zone and behind each grandstand. A foreign exchange point is also located behind Grandstand A.