The Track 
The Shanghai International Circuit is the latest leg of the Tilke World Tour, and is relatively well established on the calendar compared to some, given that it has been ambling around since 2004. Despite the traditional moans about Tilkedromes, this track (like Istanbul) at least tries to add something a bit different to the mix, and the banked turn 13 offers a viewing experience that otherwise F1 can't really offer now Indianapolis is off the agenda.
The flip side of this almost-unique aspect to the track is that the banked turn leads onto a staple Tilke feature, i.e. a stupidly long straight with a fiddly tight hairpin at the end of it. Still, you can't have it all.
Elsewhere, the lap is a fair amount of nothing, with a first sector dominated by twiddly stuff, a middle sector of tricky but bland mid-speed stuff and the final sector dominated by that straight. The fact that the circuit map looks a bit like a foetus is just about the most entertaining fact you can really drum up about it.
Talking Points
Two races to go this season, and we are just about faced with the prospect of a sexy three way for both titles. The determination of Felipe Massa and Lewis Hamilton to throw away their championship hopes in the Japanese race was matched only by Robert Kubica's efforts to keep his own hopes afloat. The BMW man still remains in the role of outsider, as indeed his team does for the constructors championship, but despite (or perhaps because of) that, he is also the romantic choice. It would serve everyone associated with Ferrari and McLaren right for making such a complete shambles of their efforts if Kubby were to somehow steal the crown from under their noses, even if the BMW team themselves probably don't deserve the constructors trophy for easing off their development work so fatally during the middle part of the season. But whatever happens, Kubica is Patty's unofficial choice, and the choice for any gamblers as well, as he can still be snapped up at the tempting price of 20/1 at most pessimistic bookmakers.
Realistically though, if some moment of spazzery befalls one of Hamilton or Massa, the other one will probably keep it together. So which one will not bother bottling in China? Well, if the evidence of last season is anything to go by, certainly not Hamilton. He came into the final two races of last season just needing a solitary sixth place to assure him of the title, and he spectacularly failed to do that in China, slithering into a randomly-placed pit lane gravel trap and beaching himself rather unceremoniously. Some blamed the McLaren team for not pitting him earlier, given the handling issues his badly-graining tyres were evidently causing, but you could not unfairly blame Hamilton for trying to race Kimi on track with failing rubber despite only needing a lowly points finish for the title. Given the petulant way he acquiesced to the team's order to drive for 3rd place in Singapore, rather than risk a tangle with Rosberg, and the way he made a complete cockart of the start in Fuji, this particular quibble with Hamilton’s racing personality seems to remain. A racer's desire may well be a trait that should be encouraged, the ability to reign in that same desire when the situation calls for it is just as important, and right now seems missing from Hamilton's arsenal.
So, Massa then. Unlike Hamilton, this is the Brazilian's first go at winning the drivers championship, but he has proved throughout his career that he would be more than capable of mucking up a race in which he was the only competitor. On the other hand, despite his five point deficit to Hamilton, perhaps he should be viewed as more of the favourite for the title. He has run almost faultlessly at the Tilkedromes so far this year, and he will be confident of running well in his home event for the final race. But at Fuji he was as accident-prone as Hamilton, albeit from the position of needing to finish ahead of him, and the beauty (read: frustration) of Felipe Massa is that you're never really sure what he's going to do next.
Elsewhere, if the championship fight is proving too rubbish a spectacle for you, the other scraps in the championships look destined to be mere wrangling over lowly positions anyway. After his two wins on the trot, Fernando Alonso could well overhaul one or both of Heikki Kovalainen and Nick Heidfeld, which would be no mean feat given the gulf in class between their respective cars for much of the year, while a minor scrap continues to peter out into little between Toro Rosso, Red Bull and Williams for 6th in the constructors championship, and all the privileges that go with it. But realistically, for most, this year is all but done with.
Modern Classic
2006
The closing stages of the 2006 championship was the story of Michael Schumacher attempting to close down Fernando Alonso's early points lead. In China, an inspired drive on a damp track saw Schumie move to level on points with the Spaniard with two races to go.
Alonso and his team mate Giancarlo Fisichella extended a lead over the first few laps, but Schumacher displayed his usual virtuosity on a slick track, and slowly but surely worked his way on to the back of the Renault pair, and with Alonso's tyres ruined, the reigning champ was forced to let Fisichella take the lead and try and limit the damage. Fisi, though, was patently useless, and Schumacher took the lead after the final round of pit stops. Despite a late charge from Alonso, he could only manage second behind the German, who took what was to become his last ever F1 race win.
Further back, Fisichella took third ahead of terminal average finisher Jenson Button, with Pedro de la Rosa nabbing some points for McLaren in 5th after his team mate Kimi Raikkonen had undergone his traditional 2006-spec retirement.
One Year Ago
Twelve months ago in Shanghai was a seminal moment for at least two reasons. Firstly, it marked the official start of Lewis Hamilton's choking act for the season, one he may well have begun at an earlier stage this time around. Secondly, it marked the debut of Patty's (neé Friki's) live terrying. Which was a joyous moment for all involved. Take a look back at both, and indeed a look back at Kimi's win, here.
Facts and Guesses
Number of Laps : 56
Lap Record : 1:32.238 (Michael Schumacher - 2004)
2007 Pole : Lewis Hamilton (McLaren - Mercedes)
2007 Winner : Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
Free Practice 1 & 2 : 10:00 & 14.00 (Local Time) / 04.30 & 07.00 (BST) - Friday 17th October
Free Practice 3 : 11:00 (Local Time) / 04.00 (BST) - Saturday 18th October
Qualifying Start : 14.00 (Local Time) / 07.00 (BST) - Saturday 18th October
Race Start : 15.00 (Local Time) / 08.00 (BST) - Sunday 19th October
On Patronise
All the important stuff will be covered here on Patty, as we approach the long-awaited winter holiday when this site can calm down and have a cup of tea, oh and the climax of the championship battle as well. Join us for all the usual sarcastic lap-by-lap commentary stuff during qualifying and the race and then read our reviews after the events in casual disinterest. Go on, we dare you.
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