After Max Verstappen returned to form in Suzuka to make the Japanese Grand Prix his third of a possible four victories in the 2024 Formula One season, the drivers arrive in Shanghai this weekend for the first edition in five years of the Chinese Grand Prix.
The meeting begins with a free practice session on April 19 at 11:30 a.m. local time (CST), but unlike the vasty majority of events on the calendar, this is the only practice session the 20 drivers will take part in, as opposed to the usual three. Instead, a 19-lap sprint will take place prior to qualifying and the main race itself.
This sprint challenge takes place on the morning of Saturday, 20 April, before the main qualifying session that afternoon, and the 'sprint shootout', determining placings for the quick-fire 19-lap event, will be held after the free practice session on Friday, 19 April.
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This all leads through to qualifying on Saturday, April 20, which of course decides the 20 grid placings for the race proper on Sunday, April 21. The fifth race of the season begins at 3:00 p.m. local time (CST), and will run for 56 laps at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Having withdrawn with a brakes issue just three laps into the Australian Grand Prix in March, last weekend's meeting in Japan provided three-time world champion Verstappen with the perfect opportunity to bounce back. He certainly did so too, beating Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez by over 12 seconds to re-establish his firm lead at the top of the World Drivers' Championship standings.
The last edition of the Chinese Grand Prix came all the way back in 2019 though, well before Verstappen had become a serial winner of Formula 1 world titles. Instead, he finished fourth at Shanghai five years ago, with then-Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas recording a one-two finish and now-retired Sebastian Vettel placing third on the podium.
The Chinese Grand Prix is finally welcomed back into the F1 calendar in 2024, and ahead of this weekend's historic occasion in Shanghai, The Sporting News has all the action covered, with a full schedule, TV and streaming details to ensure you don't miss a minute.
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F1 2024 schedule: What time is China free practice?
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | India | |
| Date | Fri, April 19 | Thurs, April 18 | Thurs, April 18 | Fri, April 19 | Fri, April 19 |
| Time | 4:30 a.m. BST | 11:30 p.m. ET | 11:30 p.m. ET | 1:30 p.m. AEST | 9:00 a.m. IST |
F1 2024 schedule: What time is China sprint shootout?
| UK | USA | Canada | Australia | India | |
| Date | Fri, April 19 | Fri, April 19 | Fri, April 19 | Fri, April 19 | Fri, April 19 |
| Time | 8:30 a.m. BST | 3:30 a.m. ET | 3:30 a.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. AEST | 1:00 p.m. IST |