We don’t want to do this, but…
The moment Oscar Piastri’s podium hopes came crashing down in Melbourne.Credit: Fox Sports
It was only seven days ago when Oscar Piastri spun off his home Albert Park track on lap 44, his hopes of a fairytale Australian Grand Prix win disappearing in the blink of an eye.
So what makes the Shanghai track so special?
F1 drivers and team staff gather at Shanghai to pay a pre-race tribute to former team owner Eddie Jordan.Credit: Getty Images
Built in April 2003, the Shanghai circuit is one of the most state-of-the-art on today’s F1 calendar.
Known for its long, sweeping bends and eye-popping straights, the Shanghai Internatioanl Circuit cost around $US450 million to build. Ferrari’s Rubens Barrichello won the first grand prix at the track in 2004.
What makes the circuit so fascinating is how tight and technical the start of the lap is, before it opens right up in the latter stages. Its biggest straight – of 1.2 kilometres – is between turns 13 and 14, with the pit straight starting after the final turn, No.16. Turns seven and eight are known for their super high G-force (or gravitational force, which the drivers experience in F1 cars through their lightning-fast acceleration). In qualifying yesterday, Max Verstappen set a top speed of 339 km/h.
Oscar Piastri set the lap record yesterday in qualifying, and then beat it again. It now sits at 1m 30.641s. He was super strong in the sprint race this weekend, finishing second behind Ferrari superstar Lewis Hamilton, and continued that form right through qualifying.
Farewell, Eddie Jordan
Eddie Jordan deep in conversation with Damon Hill.Credit: Getty Images
In the lead-up to today’s big race, Sky F1 commentator Martin Brundle is paying tribute to his great mate Eddie Jordan, who passed away after a long battle with cancer.
He hit Formula 1 in 1991 as a team owner (with the team named after him), and had a huge impact straight away – through the mechanics, engineers, and drivers he mentored.
He gave Michael Schumacher his F1 debut in Spa, before the now-legend of the sport moved on to Benetton.
Brundle spoke about the time he drove for Jordan in 1996 and absolutely destroyed the car, only for Eddie to say he only cared about his welfare.
Jordan sold the final share of his team in 2005 and then spent the rest of his life as a family man, entrepreneur, and musician.
He died 10 days shy of his 77th birthday.
“He affected so many people with his joy of life,” former world champion Damon Hill said of his countryman.
“Thank you, with all of our hearts, Eddie – you were a rock star in every sense.”
Welcome to the Chinese Grand Prix
Oscar Piastri talks to the media after setting the fastest time in Saturday qualifying.Credit: Getty Images
G’day, and welcome to the Chinese Grand Prix from Shanghai.
My name is Russell, and I’ll be taking you through all of the action as bayside Melbourne’s own Oscar Piastri tries to turn around his horrific Albert Park luck within the space of just seven days.
For the first time in his career, he’s starting a Formula 1 grand prix from pole and, ominously, both of his fastest times from the final segment of qualifying yesterday would have been enough to cement the No.1 spot on the grid.
We’re just over an hour from lights out. Bring it on.
