'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMF/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwT/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAANy5I3//xAAhEAABAwEJAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADAAECBQQHERchM1WSk//aAAgBAQABPwCF81QGKMTBfQmItvrJ2gs76jx9n82X/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgEA/9oACAECAQE/AA1Zv//EABYRAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAv/aAAgBAwEBPwByX//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A handful of F1 teams have brought upgrades for the 2024 F1 Chinese GP. F1 returns to the Shanghai International Circuit after five years. The country was unable to host races due to strict COVID-19 restrictions up until 2024.
This season, Max Verstappen dominated the Japanese GP after suffering an unfortunate retirement at the Australian GP. The Dutchman won the race, while his teammate, Sergio Perez, secured second place. Carlos Sainz bagged another podium by finishing third, while his teammate Charles Leclerc ended up in fourth. Mercedes drivers struggled with the overall tire degradation. George Russell finished seventh, while Lewis Hamilton was down in ninth.
The race weekend has already commenced in China, with teams only getting one practice session before heading into Parc Ferme and sprint qualifying. Here are some of the teams who have brought upgrades to Shanghai.
2024 F1 Chinese GP: List of upgrades
Mercedes
- Halo (Performance)
After an underwhelming race in Japan, Mercedes have brought a tiny upgrade to their car. They only added a small flick on either side of the halo to help control the airflow out of the cockpit.
Alpine
- Floor Body (Performance)
- Floor Fences (Performance)
- Floor Edge (Performance)
Alpine drastically updated their floor ahead of the Chinese GP. They brought a new floor body, fences, and edges to help change the airflow around the rear corner, front floor, and edges of the car.
Williams
- Halo (Performance)
Over the past month, Williams have been struggling quite a lot, especially due to the lack of chassis. After Alex Albon's crash in Australia and Logan Sargeant's shunt in Japan, the British team's resources have worn thin.
Coming into China, they only brought a small update for the Halo to further improve airflow around the cockpit and eventually the rear wing.
Visa Cash App RB
- Headrest (Performance)
Visa Cash App RB only brought a new headrest for the Chinese GP. The new headrest would reduce airflow separation behind the driver's helmet and improve the overall airflow behind the headrest.
Haas
- Floor Fences (Performance)
- Floor Edge (Performance)
- Coke/Engine Cover (Performance)
- Rear Corner (Performance)
- Mirror (Performance)
Haas have brought the most number of upgrades to the Chinese GP. The floor fences and the floor edge are to improve downforce and drivability of the car respectively. The new engine cover aims to reduce drag at the rear of the car. The rear corner increases the local load by altering the airflow. Finally, the new smaller mirror reduces the wake on the rear of the car.
The 2024 F1 Chinese GP commenced on Friday, April 19, with only one practice session and the 2024 season's first sprint qualifying. On Saturday, April 20, teams will participate in the sprint race, followed by the qualifying session for the main Grand Prix. On Sunday, April 21, the Chinese GP will be held.
