Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix

The Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix runs from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 April 2027 at Shanghai International Circuit, in Jiading District on the north-west side of Shanghai. formula1.com lists a standard weekend: two practice sessions on Friday, final practice and qualifying on Saturday, and the race on Sunday. 2027 session times are TBC.

The circuit was built on marshland in Jiading in 18 months and hosted its first Grand Prix in 2004. Seen from above, the 5.451 km layout is shaped like the Chinese character shang. formula1.com picks out the tightening Turns 1 and 2, the high-g Turns 7 and 8, and a 1.2 km back straight, one of the longest in F1, which ends at the Turn 14 hairpin. The official F1 ticket store says the circuit holds 200,000 people, every grandstand has large screens, and Grandstand A alone has around 30,000 seats.

For a trip, Shanghai does most of the work. The circuit is about 30 km from the centre, and Metro Line 11 runs to Shanghai Circuit Station next to the track, so you can stay in the city and ride in each day. On 2026 race weekend, Shanghai's government warned of road closures around the circuit, so the metro is the simplest option. Check entry rules early: GOV.UK lists visa-free entry for British citizens only until 31 December 2026, so for the April 2027 race you need to confirm the rules at the time and apply for a visa if the scheme hasn't been extended.

• The 1.2 km back straight: one of the longest on the calendar, ending at the Turn 14 hairpin, the prime overtaking zone according to the official F1 ticket store.
• Grandstand K: formula1.com's pick, overlooking the Turn 14–15 hairpin; Turn 6 is the other main passing spot.
• Grandstand A: around 30,000 seats on the main straight, one of the largest grandstands in motorsport.
• The E-stand: reopened in 2026 after an upgrade, with about 5,000 seats facing the Turn 11–13 complex, according to Shanghai's government.
• Shanghai itself: from the Bund to Pudong, a city break and a race weekend in one.

• Along Metro Line 11: the line runs straight to Shanghai Circuit Station by the track, so a hotel near a Line 11 station cuts out changes on race days.
• Central Shanghai (Puxi): the Bund, People's Square, Jing'an and Xintiandi have the widest choice; allow about 45–60 minutes each way on the metro.
• Pudong: closer to Pudong airport, with the riverside skyline; formula1.com suggests it for bars and restaurants, then Line 11 to the circuit.
• Jiading: the district around the circuit, for the shortest trip to the gates.

See our Shanghai guide for neighbourhoods.

From the UK

British Airways sells direct flights from London to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG); its Shanghai page gives a flight time of around 11 hours 45 minutes. The circuit is in Jiading, about 30 km from central Shanghai, so allow time to cross the city from the airport.

Visa: GOV.UK says British citizens can enter China visa free for up to 30 days for tourism until 31 December 2026. Nothing has been published for 2027, so check GOV.UK before you book for April 2027. If you need a visa, you apply online and then attend a visa application centre in London, Manchester, Belfast or Edinburgh if you're aged 14 to 70. Your passport needs at least 6 months' validity on arrival and 2 blank pages.

On race days

• Metro Line 11 to Shanghai Circuit Station, next to the track. The official F1 ticket store puts the trip from central Shanghai at about 45–50 minutes; formula1.com says about an hour.
• Road closures: for 2026, Shanghai's government announced closures around the circuit on Saturday and Sunday from 7:30 to 18:30, with car parks open only to permit holders. 2027 arrangements aren't published yet.
• Ride-hailing: in 2026, drop-offs were only allowed at the Baiyin Road and Linze Road junction and the Donghuan Road and Yi'ning Road junction.
• Driving without a permit: in 2026 the advice was to use public car parks outside the restricted zone, or park at a shopping centre near a metro station and take Line 11.

For the city, see our Shanghai guide.

2027 tickets aren't on sale yet. The official F1 ticket store has a waitlist for the 2027 race, with pre-sale access for people who join. Juss Sports is the race organiser, according to Shanghai's government.

Every ticket needs full passport details registered several weeks before the event, so have your passport to hand when you book. Tickets for guests with reduced mobility are sold through the official event link.

The official F1 ticket store warns about ticketing scams, including fake websites and suspicious emails, texts and social media messages, and says genuine tickets come from formula1.com, race promoters and their appointed agents. See the official ticket page.

Sort entry first: visa-free entry for British citizens is published only until 31 December 2026. Check GOV.UK before you book flights for April 2027.

Bring your passport on race days: tickets are registered to your passport details, so carry the passport you booked with.

Use the metro: Line 11 runs to the circuit, and the roads around it were closed to most traffic on 2026's Saturday and Sunday.

Noise: F1 cars are loud, so ear protection is sensible, especially for children.

Weather: April in Shanghai can be mild or wet; bring layers and a waterproof as well as sun protection.

Little accessibility information for 2027 has been published in English. The official F1 ticket store says tickets for guests with reduced mobility are sold through the official event link, and its customer service team can answer questions through the contact link on the ticket page.

For 2026, Juss Sports ran free shuttle buses between the E-stand and the P5 car park, as the stand is some distance from the main entrance, according to Shanghai's government. Check 2027 arrangements before you go.

The FCDO doesn't advise against travel to Shanghai. Its China advice notes that the country is in an active earthquake zone and that typhoon season normally runs from May to November along the southern and eastern coast. Check the latest advice and entry rules before you travel.

• Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for China (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
• Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights and live alerts.