Chinese Grand Prix Preview

Shanghai is quite the city.

For this upcoming season, AutoRacing1.com columnist Brian Carroccio will preview all Formula 1 and IndyCar races. Below, is Brian's preview of this weekend's fourth race of the 2014 Formula 1 season, the Chinese Grand Prix. Enjoy!

A Few Quick Facts

The 2014 Formula 1 UBS Chinese Grand Prix will be the 11th running of the Chinese Grand Prix, all of which have been staged at the 5.5541-kilometer Shanghai International Circuit. Rubens Barrichello won the inaugural event driving for Ferrari in 2004. Fernando Alonso, also of Ferrari, is the defending race winner. Alonso (2005, 2013) and Lewis Hamilton (2008, 2011) are the only drivers to have won the Chinese Grand Prix twice.

What drivers in this year’s field run well in China?

Fernando Alonso on the way to victory last season in China.

In addition to Hamilton and Alonso, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen (2007), Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel (2009), McLaren’s Jenson Button (2010), and Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg (2012) have won the Chinese Grand Prix. Hamilton has started from pole three times, finished second once, and third twice. Alonso has won pole twice, and recorded two second place finishes. Vettel won pole three consecutive years (2009-2011) and finished second in 2011.

Raikkonen finished second for each of Alonso’s wins, and has also finished third twice. Button has two seconds, and a third. Rosberg won pole in 2012, and finished third in 2010.

The only other driver in this year’s field to have recorded a podium finish in China is Williams’ Felipe Massa who finished third in 2007.

No other driver in this year’s field has recorded a top-5 finish at Shanghai.

What about teams?

Ferrari has won the Chinese Grand Prix four times, McLaren three. Red Bull, Mercedes and Renault have each won once. Brawn GP, Toyota, and BAR-Honda, and the five teams mentioned above account for all podium finishes in China.

How important is qualifying in China?

The deepest grid position anyone has won the Chinese Grand Prix from is sixth (Michael Schumacher, 2006). Otherwise the race has been won from pole 5 times, second once, third twice, and fifth once.

What are some of the other factors that will determine this weekend’s winner?

The latest weather reports indicate we could see a wet qualifying session Saturday. However, race day is supposed to be dry.

Otherwise, as is the case with many of the Hermann Tilke-designed tracks, Shanghai features multiple kilometer-long straights, which will place a premium on pure horsepower. This would logically lead one to…Mercedes-powered teams, who have captured 8 of the 9 podium finishes thus far in 2014, including a sweep of the podium at the most recent race in Bahrain.

What about reigning four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel?

I’ve made my opinions on Vettel very clear. However, other than a fine showing in Malaysia, the combination of Vettel, Renault, aerodynamicist Adrian Newey, team principal Christian Horner and Red Bull has been somewhat out-to-lunch through the early part of 2014. Of course, two weeks ago in Bahrain, Vettel was asked to move over for teammate Daniel Ricciardo who has impressed so far in 2014.

Make no mistake Vettel and Red Bull will be heard from before the season is out. You just have to imagine that it won’t be before the teams return to Europe.

Anything else we should be keeping an eye on?

Yes: the intra-team battle at Scuderia Ferrari between Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso.

Remember, Raikkonen left Ferrari on less than favorable terms after the 2009 season, and was replaced by Alonso. Over the past four seasons, the Spaniard has established himself as the face of the organization and clear #1 driver. Raikkonen returned to F1 after a two-season hiatus in 2012, and was successful with Lotus. He returned to Ferrari for this season. And how exactly this very odd pairing of two previous World Champions with incredibly contrasting personalities mesh, is one of the more intriguing storylines of the 2014 season.

Of course, the opening three rounds have gone to the incumbent Alonso. However, let the record show there is a very intense battle going on within the Maranello team. And how Raikkonen responds this weekend is something this columnist will be keeping an eye on.

So who is going to win the Chinese Grand Prix?

Sorry, to be boring, but…Hamilton.

Considering his previous record in China and current form, expect a pole/fastest lap/race win type sweep from the best driver with the sport’s current best team.

Brian Carroccio is a columnist for AutoRacing1.com. He can be contacted at BrianC@AutoRacing1.com