Shanghai International Circuit was designed by Hermann Tilke and opened in 2004 at a reported cost of $240 million, making it the most expensive Formula One facility of its era. The track measures 5.451 km (3.387 miles) and races run over 56 laps for a total distance of 305.066 km. Its most distinctive feature is the Turn 1 and 2 complex, a demanding 270-degree right-handed combination whose radius tightens progressively as drivers carry speed through it. The circuit's layout also includes a long back straight feeding into a tight hairpin, creating one of the calendar's principal overtaking opportunities.
China's motorsport authorities began lobbying for a Formula One race in the early 1990s. An attempt to place a grand prix at Zhuhai International Circuit was provisionally slated for 1999 but was abandoned after the track failed to meet FIA safety standards. Negotiations shifted to Shanghai, and in 2002 a seven-year contract was signed with Formula One Management to host the race from 2004 to 2011, with organisational support from the Macau Grand Prix organisers.
The first Chinese Grand Prix was held on 26 September 2004 and was won by Rubens Barrichello driving for Ferrari. The 2005 race, run as the final round of that season's championship, was won by Fernando Alonso for Renault; the result secured both the drivers' title for Alonso and the constructors' title for Renault. Michael Schumacher won the 2006 race, which proved to be the last Formula One victory of his career. Kimi Raikkonen won for Ferrari in 2007; Lewis Hamilton took the 2008 race for McLaren-Mercedes, the first of his record six wins at the venue.
Concerns about financial losses at the Shanghai circuit prompted senior race official Qiu Weichang to raise the possibility of cancellation in 2008. Negotiations over hosting fees extended through 2009 and 2010. Bernie Ecclestone confirmed the race's place on a 20-round calendar in 2010, and a new deal was eventually concluded in February 2011 that extended the contract to 2017. A further extension announced in September 2017 kept the race on the calendar through 2020.
The 2019 edition was notable for hosting the 1000th round of the Formula One World Championship.
The 2020 race, originally scheduled for 19 April, was postponed and then cancelled as China imposed pandemic restrictions. Races in 2021, 2022, and 2023 were similarly cancelled before the event resumed in 2024 with a new agreement covering the race through 2030.
Lewis Hamilton is the most successful driver at Shanghai, with six victories: 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019. Fernando Alonso and Nico Rosberg each won twice. Among constructors, Mercedes accumulated the largest tally across the race's history. Sebastian Vettel won the 2009 race for Red Bull Racing, Jenson Button took the 2010 race for McLaren, and Daniel Ricciardo won for Red Bull in 2018. Max Verstappen won on the event's return in 2024.
The inaugural 2004 event was accompanied by Formula BMW Asia, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, and the Asian Formula Renault Challenge. The Asian Formula Renault series was not retained beyond 2004. The GP2 Asia Series joined the programme in 2008 while Formula BMW Asia was renamed Formula BMW Pacific. Porsche Carrera Cup Asia remained as sole support from 2009 until 2015, when the TCR International Series appeared for one year. The 2019 event included the China Formula Grand Prix and the Shell Helix FIA F4 Chinese Championship. F1 Academy joined as a support event from 2025.