sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
FIA makes major late change to Chinese Grand Prix just hours before first sprint race of season

Home> F1

Updated 15:28 20 Mar 2025 GMTPublished 15:29 20 Mar 2025 GMT

FIA makes major late change to Chinese Grand Prix just hours before first sprint race of season

The Chinese Grand Prix will take place in Shanghai this weekend.

Marcus Chan

Marcus Chan

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, has made a late change ahead of this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix.

Last weekend, the 2025 campaign began in Melbourne with the Australian Grand Prix.

Under tricky conditions, McLaren star Lando Norris came home first to clinch victory ahead of Max Verstappen and George Russell.

This weekend, the Chinese Grand Prix will be held around the Shanghai International Circuit.

Advert

The latest Grand Prix weekend will also feature the first sprint race of the season, giving drivers the chance to earn extra points.

Ahead of free practice one on Friday morning, it has been claimed that a late change has been made to the track.

FIA makes late change ahead of Chinese Grand Prix

As reported by Race Fans, the Drag Reduction System (DRS) zone has been extended by 75 metres.

DRS allows the rear wing to open up, which reduces aerodynamic drag in order to increase top speed for overtaking.

The DRS zone is situated along the back straight and the extension was done by moving the activation point closer to Turn 13.

The back straight in Shanghai is one of the longest on the F1 calendar, measuring at 1170 metres.

Despite the activation point being moved back, the detection point will remain at Turn 12.

The report added: "The other DRS zone is unchanged, with a detection point 35 metres before the final corner and activation point 98 metres after it."

McLaren look likely to be the team to beat this year. Image: Getty
McLaren look likely to be the team to beat this year. Image: Getty

Speaking ahead of the weekend, title favourite Norris said: "I mean, I'm hoping we can do better, and I'm hoping it can be a bit easier.

"I think we had a great race, you know, our gap to our competitors halfway through the race was 15 seconds or something."

He added: "We expected to be pole and to be quickest, and we expected to kind of be there. But we expected Ferrari to be a good chunk quicker than they were."

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Formula 1, FIA

Marcus Chan
Marcus Chan

Recommended reads

David Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridartsMark Selby lifts lid on backstage talks over Crucible as landmark agreement reachedGettyBarry Hearn sends message to Ronnie O'Sullivan over snooker future as Crucible prediction madeGettyTyson Fury explains why his 14-year-old son Prince has “no choice” but to become a boxerGetty

Advert

Choose your content:

11 mins ago
a day ago
  •  Denis Doyle/Getty Images
    11 mins ago

    New images of Madrid F1 track emerge just months before Grand Prix leave fans very concerned

    Things aren't looking good for one of the biggest races of the year.

    F1
  • Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images
    a day ago

    F1 insider reveals major Ferrari change planned for Lewis Hamilton at Miami GP

    The seven-time champion is set for a major change ahead of the fourth race of the season.

    F1
  • Getty Images
    a day ago

    Charles Leclerc pulls out of talks with rival F1 team after 'something fishy'

    Charles Leclerc had been approached by a rival F1 team but pulled out after sensing 'something fishy'.

    F1
  • Getty
    a day ago

    Second Max Verstappen ally 'set to leave Red Bull' in surprise new blow

    It follows reports that a different Red Bull staff member had tendered their resignation.

    F1
  • Ferrari disqualification fear revealed ahead of Chinese GP as real reason for disastrous Australia pace emerges
  • Lando Norris issues controversial response as McLaren decide on Chinese Grand Prix car after sudden FIA rule change
  • F1 hold talks over holding new Grand Prix in iconic city as official statement released
  • Australian GP track undergoes major change ahead of 2025 race after FIA investigation launched