• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
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

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.

Advert

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

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.

Advert

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.

Advert

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."

Advert

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

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Fans want Lewis Hamilton to leave Ferrari after hearing team radio exchange during Silverstone GP qualifying

    Lewis Hamilton is in action as qualifying takes place ahead of the British Grand Prix.

    F1
  • an hour ago

    Martin Brundle reveals Jeremy Clarkson's bold-five word claim during Silverstone Grand Prix

    The popular broadcaster made a bold prediction live on Sky Sports.

    F1
  • 2 hours ago

    Fans are extremely worried after seeing footage of Max Verstappen at Silverstone

    Speculation surrounds the future of the Red Bull driver who has been linked with a move to Mercedes.

    F1
  • 2 hours ago

    F1 star handed double punishment ahead of Silverstone Grand Prix after 'bizarre' incident

    The British Grand Prix is taking place on Sunday at Silverstone.

    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