Formula 1 in 2025: How to watch the Chinese Grand Prix on TV and what to know

SHANGHAI (AP) — Here is a guide that tells you everything you need to know about Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix — the second race in the 2025 Formula 1 series.

How to watch the Chinese Grand Prix on TV

— In the U.S., ESPN.

— Other countries are listed here.

What is the Chinese Grand Prix schedule?

— Saturday: Sprint race and qualifying for the Grand Prix.

— Sunday: The Chinese Grand Prix.

Where is the Chinese Grand Prix taking place?

The 5.45-kilometer (3.39-mile) Shanghai International Circuit is a purpose-built race track which first hosted F1 in 2004. Its layout resembles the Chinese character “shang” — the first part of the name of the city of Shanghai. Max Verstappen had a commanding win there last season ahead of Lando Norris, but teams have little recent experience of a track which didn’t host F1 from 2020 through 2023 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What happened last weekend?

Norris won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix for McLaren after overcoming a slide off-track in the rain and a late challenge from second-place Verstappen. George Russell was third for Mercedes. Norris’ teammate and potential title rival Oscar Piastri span off the road and recovered to finish ninth after a late overtake on Lewis Hamilton, who was 10th in a frustrating debut for Ferrari.

What do I need to know about F1 and the Chinese Grand Prix?

Get caught up:

— Lewis Hamilton wins sprint pole position in China days after a disappointing F1 debut for Ferrari

— Hamilton wants a faster Ferrari to challenge McLaren

— McLaren has ominous pace, Lewis Hamilton has work to do: 5 takeaways from F1’s season-opener

— McLaren’s Lando Norris wins wet and wild Australian Grand Prix. Hamilton finishes 10th

— Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is having a cultural impact far beyond Formula 1

— Meet Formula 1’s biggest rookie class in years

Key stats at Shanghai International Circuit

3 — Only three current drivers have won in China. Verstappen won last year and Hamilton won six times for McLaren and Mercedes from 2008 to 2019. Fernando Alonso, now at Aston Martin, won for Renault in 2005 and Ferrari in 2013.

63 — Verstappen led the driver standings for 63 straight races over nearly three years. Now Norris leads after his win in Australia. The last driver other than Verstappen to be standings leader was Charles Leclerc in 2022.

18 — Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s age when he became the second-youngest driver in F1 history to score points in Australia on his debut.

Sprint qualifying and practice on Friday

In qualifying for Saturday’s first sprint race of the year, Lewis Hamilton took a surprise pole position after Lando Norris made a mistake on his final run and placed sixth. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was second, with Norris’ McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri third. In a sign McLaren is still the fastest team, Norris was quickest by nearly half a second in the only practice session of the weekend Friday.

What was said after sprint qualifying?

“I’m just a bit gobsmacked, honestly, I’m a bit taken back by it.” — Hamilton

“The McLarens looked fast up until the last run so it will be hard to keep them behind during the sprint but hopefully it will be fun.” — Verstappen

“Our difficulties that we’ve been struggling with showed a lot more today.” — Norris

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The Associated Press