Preview: Can Hamilton bounce back at 2018 Chinese Grand Prix?

By Michael Butterworth

SHANGHAI, April 11 (Xinhua) -- After last Sunday's thrilling race in Bahrain, where Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel narrowly held off the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas to claim his second win of 2018, the Formula 1 circus moves onto Shanghai this weekend for the Chinese Grand Prix.

Designed by renowned F1 architect Hermann Tilke, the Shanghai International Circuit opened in 2004 at a cost of $350 billion, making it at the time the world's costliest motorsport venue.

The track's design is inspired by the shape of the Chinese character "Shang", and its notorious first turn is one of the most challenging corners on the F1 calendar. The 270-degree double right-hander is entered at great speed and gradually tightens towards the exit, requiring drivers to brake and steer at the same time. Difficult enough in dry conditions, Shanghai's frequent downpours make this an even trickier proposition.

Since holding its first Grand Prix in 2004, Shanghai has seen its fair share of on-track agony and ecstasy, as well as a number of notable F1 milestones.

The 2006 Chinese Grand Prix marked the last ever race win for seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, while the 2012 event saw Nico Rosberg romp home to his first ever Grand Prix victory, and Sebastian Vettel took the first of many wins for Red Bull Racing in torrential conditions in 2009. Shanghai has also been a happy hunting ground for current champion Lewis Hamilton, who has won here no fewer than five times, though he may want to forget his first Chinese Grand Prix in 2007. After leading the first half of the race and appearing set for a fairytale championship win in his rookie year, the Briton slid off the track and ended up beached in the gravel trap, ending his afternoon's work and ultimately seeing him pipped to that year's title by Kimi Raikkonen.

Turning attention to this weekend, Hamilton will doubtless be hoping that this race follows the form of the 2017 Chinese Grand Prix, rather than the 2007 debacle. In damp conditions last year, the Mercedes driver led the field away from pole position, and was never headed as he cruised to a controlled win.

With Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel having won the first two races of this year, Hamilton will be keener than ever to put the German in the shade this time out. Elsewhere on the grid, Red Bull will be hoping for better things in Shanghai, after both cars ground embarrassingly to a halt within two laps of the start in Bahrain. Dutchman Max Verstappen notably climbed from 16th on the grid to grab third place last year, and may fancy his chances of snatching a win if it rains on Sunday.

Meanwhile, McLaren have reacted to their tepid start to the season by restructuring their management team, though the quick turnaround between the Bahrain and China races leaves precious little time for research and development, meaning the papaya-coloured cars are likely to remain midfield runners at best in Shanghai.

Other talking points include whether or not Haas and Toro Rosso can maintain the impressive pace they showed in Bahrain, and purists up and down the grid will be hoping the once-proud Williams team can lift itself out of its uncompetitive funk that has so far seen both of its cars languishing at the back of the pack.

The 2018 Chinese Grand Prix runs from 13th-15th April at the Shanghai International Circuit. Xinhua will be there to keep you updated of all the happenings across the practice sessions, qualifying and of course Sunday's race. Enditem.