To date at Shanghai International Circuit, there have been 12 Safety Car outings – including two Virtual Safety Car periods. Here’s a list of every time the Safety Car has been deployed at the Chinese Grand Prix!
2005 Chinese Grand Prix, Lap 18
The first Safety Car outing at the Chinese Grand Prix came in the second race staged at Shanghai International Circuit. A drain cover had come loose at the exit of Turn 10 and was subsequently hit by Juan Pablo Montoya. The Safety Car was called out as a result as the 20kg piece of drain was removed from the circuit.
Despite suffering a puncture and damage to the sidepods, the McLaren was able to continue in the race. Montoya retired 10 laps later due to an engine failure which was unrelated to the drain incident.
2005 Chinese Grand Prix, Lap 29
Narain Karthikeyan suffered a sizeable accident in the 2005 Chinese Grand Prix, crashing into the wall at Turn 13. It left debris from his Jordan car strewn across the track and the Safety Car was called out as a result.
2009 Chinese Grand Prix, Lap 1
The 2009 Chinese Grand Prix is the only race at Shanghai International Circuit to have started under Safety Car conditions. Heavy rain saw the first eight laps of the race completed under Safety Car conditions. It is the longest Safety Car period to date at the track.
2009 Chinese Grand Prix, Lap 19
Robert Kubica crashed into the back of Jarno Trulli at the final turn on Lap 17 of the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix, leaving the Toyota without a front wing. The Safety Car was called out due to debris on track. Trulli retired from the race while Kubica was able to continue.
2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Lap 1
For the first time, aside from the rain-hit 2009 race, the Safety Car was deployed on the opening lap of the Chinese Grand Prix in 2010. A multi car crash resulted in the caution period. Vitantonio Liuzzi lost control of his Force India and flew over Kamui Kobayashi’s Sauber at Turn 6. Sebastian Buemi also retired on the opening lap.
2010 Chinese Grand Prix, Lap 22
Jaime Alguersuari deposited his front wing on the circuit after picking up debris on Lap 22 of the 2010 Chinese Grand Prix.
2015 Chinese Grand Prix, Lap 54
It would be five years before the next Safety Car deployment at the Chinese Grand Prix. It came as a result of Max Verstappen coming to a stop with a smoking engine on the main straight. As a result, the 2015 Chinese Grand Prix became the seventh Formula 1 race to end under Safety Car conditions.
2016 Chinese Grand Prix, Lap 4
Daniel Ricciardo – who had been leading the opening laps – suffered a puncture on the back straight in the early stages of the 2016 Chinese Grand Prix. With debris from this incident and further debris from incidents on Lap 1, the Safety Car was called out.
2017 Chinese Grand Prix, Lap 2
The Virtual Safety Car made its first appearance at the Chinese Grand Prix in 2017. Lance Stroll came to a halt in a gravel trap after making contact with Force India driver Sergio Perez.
2017 Chinese Grand Prix, Lap 4
Antonio Giovinazzi crashed out on the main straight on the fourth lap of the 2017 Chinese Grand Prix, bringing out the full Safety Car just minutes after the previous VSC period had ended. The Safety Car led the drivers through the pit lane due to the position of Giovinazzi’s crash.
2018 Chinese Grand Prix, Lap 31
After the two Toro Rosso drivers collided at the hairpin, debris was left scattered across the track. The Safety Car was deployed while the mess was cleared away.
2019 Chinese Grand Prix, Lap 1
Contact between Daniil Kvyat and the two McLaren drivers – Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris – on the opening lap of Formula 1’s 1000th race led to the Virtual Safety Car being deployed. Kvyat received a drive-through penalty for the incident, with both him and Norris later retiring from the race as a result of damage sustained in the crash.
