Formula 1
Chinese GP: Michelin preview
MICHELIN - AN F1 TYRE FOR ALL SEASONS An arduous, 19-race Formula One campaign - the longest in world championship history - draws to a close this weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit, the 19th venue to have hosted the seasonal ...
Published: Oct 13, 2005, 5:10 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
MICHELIN - AN F1 TYRE FOR ALL SEASONS
An arduous, 19-race Formula One campaign - the longest in world championship history - draws to a close this weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit, the 19th venue to have hosted the seasonal finale.
Since the series' inauguration in 1950, concluding races have previously taken place at Monza (Italy), Pedralbes and Jerez (Spain), Casablanca (Morocco), Sebring, Riverside, Watkins Glen and Las Vegas (United States), East London and Kyalami (South Africa) Mexico City (Mexico), Fuji and Suzuka (Japan), Montreal (Canada), Estoril (Portugal), Adelaide (Australia), Sepang (Malaysia) and Interlagos (Brazil).
Just seven days after racing at Suzuka, one of F1's oldest active tracks, Michelin and its seven partner teams are turning their attention to one of the newest. China staged its first F1 race on September 26 last year - a major landmark in the sport's history - and the challenging, 5.451-kilometre (3.387-mile) track was well received, as were its standard- setting facilities. Jenson Button (B*A*R-Honda) was the leading Michelin finisher, in second place.
This year's Chinese GP marks the end of a season in which Michelin and its partners have been extraordinarily dominant in F1 and a wide range of other motorsport disciplines. In addition to securing both F1 world titles, Michelin has enjoyed significant success in MotoGP, the World Rally Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours.
Whatever happens on Sunday, Michelin has underlined its ability to provide competition tyres fit for any climactic conditions and, so far this year, has already secured victories on each of the five continents that feature on the F1 calendar.
Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin motorsport director:
"It promises to be a thrilling seasonal finale in Shanghai, where two of our partner teams- McLaren Mercedes and Renault - will be fighting to decide the outcome of this year's world championship for constructors."
"Our goal, as always, will be to provide our partners with tyres that allow them to perform at their full potential over a full race distance. Last weekend's Japanese Grand Prix provided a perfect illustration of our ability to do exactly that.
"The Shanghai circuit is relatively new, of course, but last year's inaugural race gave us plenty of data and we know what to expect. It is a tough track for drivers and one or two corners place a very high load on tyres, but from a technical perspective it doesn't cause us too many headaches."
"This will be our 19th grand prix in eight months - and so far we have scored 17 wins. The Chinese GP thus marks the end of a long and arduous but incredibly successful F1 campaign."
Team perspective
Pat Symonds, executive engineering director, Renault:
"China is a reasonably demanding circuit for tyres: it's a long lap, which obviously means overall tyre energy is high, but it is also in the top third when you look in terms of energy per kilometre. This is because of a number of factors."
"There are lots of traction events - hard acceleration from low speeds - while T1 puts a high loading on the left front and T12/13 affects the left rear likewise. You also have to bear in mind the constant series of corners that basically runs all the way from T1 to T10.
"Overall, the drivers will often feel the car is lacking in grip because we are obliged to run lower than optimum downforce levels in order to maintain good top speed, and this makes mechanical grip a key factor."
"We selected our Shanghai tyres during testing in Jerez, at the end of September, and we are confident that Michelin's products will allow them and us to end what has already been an extremely successful season on a high."
-michelin-
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Schumaher philosophical about 2005
Next article 2005 bows out with Shanghai showdown
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jenson Button
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Formula 1
The greatest F1 campaigns with no wins
Fernando Alonso earns Michael Schumacher comparison from Jenson Button
Formula 1
Formula 1
Italian GP
Fernando Alonso earns Michael Schumacher comparison from Jenson Button
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
Formula 1
Formula 1
Who belongs on F1's Mount Rushmore? Pick your four greatest drivers
More from
Mercedes
Mercedes out of performance window at Mexico GP - George Russell
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
7 h
Mercedes out of performance window at Mexico GP - George Russell
Why “ignorance is a superpower” for Kimi Antonelli, according to Daniel Ricciardo
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Why “ignorance is a superpower” for Kimi Antonelli, according to Daniel Ricciardo
Latest news
Lewis Hamilton buoyed by historic first Ferrari F1 pole: "I still love what I do"
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
17 min
Lewis Hamilton buoyed by historic first Ferrari F1 pole: "I still love what I do"
2026 F1 Mexico Grand Prix starting grid
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
22 min
2026 F1 Mexico Grand Prix starting grid
F1 Mexico GP: Lewis Hamilton beats George Russell and Charles Leclerc to pole
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
34 min
F1 Mexico GP: Lewis Hamilton beats George Russell and Charles Leclerc to pole
LIVE: F1 Mexico GP updates - Lewis Hamilton takes pole from George Russell
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Mexican GP
2 h
LIVE: F1 Mexico GP updates - Lewis Hamilton takes pole from George Russell
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe