After the race in Australia, Formula 1 travels directly to Asia for the Chinese Grand Prix. The race weekend will be held at the Shanghai International Circuit, a track known for its long straights and challenging corner combinations. For fans in the Netherlands, this means a race weekend that largely takes place in the morning.
The Shanghai International Circuit is located just outside the city of Shanghai and has a length of 5.451 kilometers. The track consists of 16 corners and is known for its long straight of over one kilometer, where drivers can reach speeds of more than 330 km/h. This makes the circuit one of the best places on the calendar for overtaking maneuvers.
The weekend in China often has an interesting mix of strategy and speed. Due to the combination of fast sections and technical corners, teams need to find a good balance in the car's setup. This often makes both qualifying and the race exciting to follow.
For fans who want to watch the entire weekend, it is useful to know the Formula 1 schedule with Dutch times.
When does Formula 1 China 2026 start?
F1 Dutch times GP China Shanghai 2026
| F1 Session | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | Friday March 13 | 04:30 - 05:30 |
| Sprint Qualifying | Friday March 13 | 08:30 - 09:15 |
| Sprint Race | Saturday March 14 | 04:00 - 05:00 |
| Qualifying | Saturday March 14 | 08:00 - 09:00 |
| Race | Sunday March 15 | 08:00 - 10:00 |
Due to the time difference with China, the sessions for Dutch fans largely start in the early morning. Especially qualifying and the race are the most important moments of the weekend for many fans.
What can we expect?
The Shanghai International Circuit often delivers surprising races. The long straight allows for good overtaking, while the technical first sector demands a lot from the car's balance.
After the opening race of the season, teams are now looking at the next step in their development. Some teams are already bringing small upgrades to China to further improve their performance.
For fans, it is therefore a great weekend to see how the balance of power continues to develop.
