Which F1 drivers do well at the Chinese Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso successful in Shanghai

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Shanghai has been the home of the Chinese Grand Prix since its debut in 2004, so F1 Oversteer has taken a look into which drivers do well at and have won at the circuit.

Very few drivers have so far made it back to the top step of the podium since Formula 1 first visited the Jiading District in 2004. In fact, Formula 1 has only seen three repeat winners yet at the Chinese GP. But a total of nine drivers have won at the Shanghai International Circuit.

The Chinese GP was also one of the last races on the Formula 1 calendar that Red Bull driver Max Verstappen had not yet won at prior to 2024. F1 not visiting the Shanghai International Circuit from 2020-23 over Covid-19 restrictions helped prevent him from winning until 2024.

Lewis Hamilton is the most successful F1 driver at the Chinese GP

Verstappen became the 10th different Chinese GP winner in 2024 with F1, finally, returning to Shanghai. The 2024 edition of the Chinese Grand Prix also saw Formula 1 run the first F1 Sprint at the Shanghai International Circuit which Verstappen also won to relish the double.

Brazilian hero Rubens Barrichello won his only Chinese GP at the inaugural event in 2004 for Ferrari. His win marked the start of the Scuderia’s strong relationship with Shanghai. But F1’s turbo-hybrid engine era turned Mercedes into the most successful team at the Chinese GP.

READ MORE: Five unforgettable Chinese Grand Prix from Michael Schumacher’s final win

Mercedes’ dominance at the Shanghai International Circuit even helped Lewis Hamilton to become the most successful F1 driver at the Chinese GP. He had already won the race with McLaren twice before switching teams in 2013 and earning four more victories in Shanghai.

Hamilton took his first Chinese GP victory during his first title-winning season in 2008. But a first victory was on the cards in 2007, as well, only for the Stevenage-born racer to beach his McLaren in the gravel at pit entry after he attempted to run too long on intermediate tyres.

The Chinese Grand Prix has only seen three repeat winners

Hamilton also became the first repeat winner of the Chinese GP in 2011 with McLaren. The seven-time champion later stood atop the podium in Shanghai for Mercedes in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019. Only in 2011 did Hamilton win in Shanghai and not secure the drivers’ title.

Mercedes also took Nico Rosberg to victory lane in 2012 and 2016 amid crucial races in the German’s Grand Prix career. His first victory at the Chinese GP was Rosberg’s first win in F1 and Mercedes’ first win since returning to F1 in 2010. Rosberg also took the F1 title in 2016.

Ferrari and Red Bull, meanwhile, interrupted Mercedes’ stranglehold on the top step of the podium in Shanghai in 2013 and 2018 respectively. The Scuderia saw Fernando Alonso win his second Chinese GP in 2013 after taking the 2005 race with Renault en route to the title.

Only Alonso, Rosberg and Hamilton are repeat winners of the Chinese GP, though. Red Bull took the team’s second win in Shanghai in 2018 with Daniel Ricciardo after Sebastian Vettel in 2009. Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Jenson Button won it once.